HIGH SERUM ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL, ALBUMIN, SELENIUM AND CHOLESTEROL, AND LOW MORTALITY FROM CORONARY HEART-DISEASE IN NORTHERN FINLAND

Objectives. The mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD) is exceptionally low in northernmost Finland, the Sami (formerly known as Lapp) area, To clarify the reasons for this, the levels of serum cholesterol, other classic risk factors, and major antioxidants, alpha-tocopherol, retinol, albumin and selenium were determined in males living in the low-mortality area and in a reference area. Design. A health survey amongst reindeer herdsmen living in the three northernmost communes of Finland (the Sami area) and in the six neighbouring communities to the south (the reference area). The mortality from CHD in the two areas was determined from death certificates issued during the period 1981-1990. Subjects. A total of 350 participants of the health survey, mean age 46 (SD 14) years. Results. The mortality from CHD was 17% lower in the Sami area than in the reference area [95% confidence interval (CI) for the difference: 4-29]. Subjects living in the low-mortality area showed higher serum-lipid-adjusted alpha-tocopherol (18.4 vs. 16.1 mu mol L(-1); 95% CI for difference: 0.7-3.9; P < 0.001), albumin (46.9 vs. 46.2 g L(-1); 0.2-1.3; P < 0.02), selenium (1.59 vs, 1.47 mu mol L(-1); 0.02-0.22; P < 0.02), cholesterol (6.76 vs. 6.34 mmol L(-1); 0.12-0.72; P < 0.001) and LDL cholesterol (4.76 vs. 4.45 mmol L(-1); 0.05-0.57; P < 0.02) than those in the reference area. The HDL cholesterol: cholesterol ratio was lower in the Sami area than in the reference area (0.20 vs. 0.21; -0.02-0.00; P < 0.04). The Samis showed higher serum selenium than the Finns. Serum alpha-tocopherol increased with the consumption of reindeer meat and serum selenium increased with fish consumption. Conclusions. Alpha-tocopherol, albumin and selenium may play a role in the low mortality from CHD observed in northernmost Finland. The favourable serum antioxidant status in northerners may be credited to the local diet.