The following abstract is relevant to a number of recent
conversations.  Enjoy.

Todd Moody
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Thromb Res 1997 May 15;86(4):333-335

Homocysteine in Greenland Inuits.

Moller JM, Nielsen GL, Ekelund S, Schmidt EB, Dyerberg J

Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Aalborg Hospital, Denmark.

Patients with homozygous homocystinuria are at greatly increased
risk for development of atherosclerosis and thrombosis (1).
Elevated plasma levels of homocysteine (HCY) are caused by
reduced enzymatic catabolism or reduced enzymatic remethylation
of HCY, due to either hereditary enzyme defects or to nutritional
deficiencies of vitamins functioning as cofactors. However,
several recent studies have suggested that persons with mildly
elevated plasma levels of HCY also are at increased risk for
coronary heart disease. (2-4). There are some indications that
dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may offer
protection against coronary heart disease (5-6). Several
mechanisms may be involved, including beneficial effects of n-3
PUFAs on plasma lipids, platelet and leukocyte reactivity, blood
pressure and vasoreactivity (7). Interestingly, Olszewski el al.
recently found HCY-levels to be lowered 36% in 15 type IIa or IIb
hyperlipemic men by n-3 PUFA supplementation. A possible
beneficial effect of n-3 PUFA on the incidence of coronary heart
disease was initially suggested from studies in Greenland Inuits
by our group (8). We therefore investigated plasma levels of
homocysteine in a group of traditionally living Greenland Inuits
with a diet consisting mainly of marine food and with a very high
content of n-3 PUFAs.

UI: 97330562