>Is it the ketogenic diet that caused the premature aging, or is it the lack
>of vitamin C?  For example, what if the Eskimos would have had access to
>fruit.  Most of the Eskimos would still have stayed in ketosis.  A couple
>pieces of fruit per day would still allow ketosis (although not for all).
>
>Although I generally agree that ketosis isn't optiumum and will induce free
>radical damage, I feel the premature aging of the Eskimos was far more
>related to a lack of vitamin C.  Maybe the Eskimos problem was more along
>these lines: premature aging = 80% no vit. C and 20% ketogenic diet.  The
>assertion that the Eskimos had more of a problem with vit. C than ketosis is
>supported by the fact that they suffered from hemorrhaging and nose bleeds,
>a symptom of vit. C deficiency.

Correct. Hemorrhagic tendency to the point of collapse is
a classic symptom of subclinical if not frank scurvy. Even if the
Inuit ate organ meats rich in ascorbate, the high stress of
almost freezing one's ass off at 40 below would create a higher
demand for dietary ascorbate. The situation with modern natives
might be better or worse, depending on the quantity and quality
of Western foods they consume.

Romanticize and be PC all you want, but the Arctic outback is
probably not the place to practice Paleo. It's a long way
from Eden, biblical or paleontological.