Genetic Features of Lipid and Carbohydrate Metabolism in Arctic Peoples

Abstract

Prolonged adaptation of ancestors of indigenous peoples of the Far North of Asia and America to extreme natural and climatic conditions of the Arctic has resulted in changes in genes controlling various metabolic processes. However, most genetic variability observed in the Eskimo and Paleoasians (the Chukchi and Koryaks) is related to adaptation to the traditional Arctic diet, which is rich in lipids and proteins but extremely poor in plant carbohydrates. The results of population genetic studies have demonstrated that specific polymorphic variants in genes related to lipid metabolism (CPT1A, FADS1, FADS2, and CYB5R2) and carbohydrate metabolism (AMY1, AMY2A, and SI) are prevalent in the Eskimo and Paleoasian peoples. When individuals deviate from their traditional dietary patterns, the aforementioned variants of genetic polymorphism can lead to the development of metabolic disorders. American Eskimo-specific variants in genes related to glucose metabolism (TBC1D and ADCY) significantly increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. These circumstances indicate the necessity for a large-scale genetic testing of indigenous population of the Far North and the need to study the biochemical and physiological consequences of genetically determined changes in the activity of enzymes of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism.