TABLE 2.
Distribution of the RBC nitrogen stable isotope ratio (δ15N), a concentration biomarker for long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) intake in Yup'ik Eskimos
| Sex |
Quartiles of δ15Na | ||||||
| Total | Women | Men | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | |
| No. of participants | 1138 | 598 | 540 | 272 | 278 | 290 | 298 |
| Mean ± SD (‰) | 9.0 ± 1.5 | 9.1 ± 1.5 | 8.8 ± 1.5 | 7.3 ± 0.3 | 8.2 ± 0.2 | 9.1 ± 0.3 | 11.0 ± 1.0 |
| Maximum | 15.2 | 15.2 | 13.5 | 7.8 | 8.6 | 9.8 | 15.2 |
| Minimum | 6.2 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 7.8 | 8.6 | 9.8 |
| Range (‰) | 9.0 | 8.9 | 7.3 | 1.6 | 0.81 | 1.2 | 5.4 |
Isotope ratios are presented as delta values in “permil” relative to atmospheric nitrogen: δ15N = [(15N/14Nsample – 15N/14Nstandard)/(15N/14Nstandard)] · 1000‰.
a
The relationship between δ15N and EPA follows the linear model: EPA (%RBC fatty acid) = 1.04 · δ15N – 6.7‰, as previously described for this population (37).