NUTRIENT INTAKES OF A SAMPLE OF FIRST NATIONS ADULTS WITH AND WITHOUTDIABETES-MELLITUS IN CENTRAL ALBERTA

In relent decades the prevalence of non-insulin dependent diabetes mel litus (NIDDM) has increased dramatically among many aboriginal groups. This paper examines nutrient intakes of 110 Plains Cree First Notions adults, with and without diabetes, in central Alberta, from three rep eated 24-hour recalls. Vitamin A intakes were also estimated from a vi tamin A food frequency questionnaire. Mean intakes per megajoule (MI) indicated that diets of women with diabetes were lower in fat and suga r end higher in many nutrients, than diets of women without diabetes ( P<0.05). Among men, fewer differences between diabetic and control gro ups were observed. Per tent energy from fat was 36-39% in three of fou r study groups. Median daily intakes exceeded recommendations for seve n nutrients; however, median calcium, tint, and folate intakes were be low recommendations for most study groups. Median intake of vitamin A based on food frequency met the recommended level, for three of the fo ur groups, while median vitamin A intake from the repeated 24-hour rec alls fell below the recommendation for all four groups. More nondiabet ic than diabetic persons were at risk of inadequate intakes of vitamin D, calcium, folate, zinc, and vitamin A. Many First Notions adults in this sample would benefit from lower fat intakes and greeter consumpt ion of foods rich in the above nutrients.