Do country food nutrients protect against mercury toxicity and cardiometabolic diseases? Integrating data from cutting-edge science and mobilizing knowledge towards Nunavimmiut health

The first section focuses on nutrient/contaminant interactions and their effects on cardio-metabolic health outcomes. The objectives are: 1.1. To measure recently validated biomarkers of T2D risk issued from metabolomics studies [2- amino adipic acid (2-AAA), branched-chain aminoacids (BCAA: leucine, isoleucine, valine), aromatic aminoacids (ArAA: phenylalanine, tyrosine) and acylcarnitines (ACN: C3 and C5)] in plasma samples from participants in the 2004 Inuit Health Survey (n = 900); 1.2. To measure various biomarkers of Se status [selenoproteins such as selenoprotein P (SelP), glutathione peroxidases (GPx) and thioredoxin reductase (TRxR), plasma total Se (P-Se), inorganic Se (Se+4 and Se+6), selenoneine, methylselenoneine, selenocysteine (SeCys), selenomethionine (SeMet) and selenoalbumin (SeAlb)] and speciate Hg fractions [methylmercury (MeHg) and inorganic mercury (IHg)] in archived blood samples from the Inuit Health in Transition Study by affinity-chromatography-ICP-MS(on-going); 1.3Use path analyses and structural equation models to link MeHg exposure, nutrient intake, early biomarkers of TD2 risk, T2D related effects [plasma adiponectin, fasting insulin and glucose levels, homeostatis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and cell function (HOMA-)] and CVD risk factors [plasma lipids (LDL, HDL, cholesterol, triglycerides, ApoA, ApoB, ApoC), oxidized LDL, PON1 activity, inflammation biomarkers (C-Reactive Protein, IL-6, TNF-α)]. The second section focuses on Se and Hg concentrations, speciation and bioavailability in Nunavik country foods. The objectives are: 2.1To collect selected country foods from several Nunavik villages in collaboration with community members and the Nunavik Research Center of Makivik Corporation; 2.2To determine the age of the animals sampled and measure total Se and Hg concentrations; 2.3To measure Se and Hg species and to study the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of Se and Hg and in these same country food samples using a gastrointestinal model that includes an in vitro enterocyte (Caco-2) model; 2.4To study the potential of other local foods to mitigate Hg bioaccessibility of selected marine mammal-based country foods; 2.5To study the ability of Se and n-3 PUFA to limit the absorption of Hg from country foods across the in vitro enterocyte Caco-2 model; 2.6To evaluate the associations between Se and Hg bioaccessibility found in country foods, and Se and Hg biomarkers in human.