A HYPOTHESIS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION IN GREENLANDERS

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 42, 7-13
Abstract
Non-emigrated Greenlanders have a low incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), when compared with age- and sex-adjusted death rates for ischemic heart disease in western countries. Greenlanders have plasma lipid levels corresponding to favorable risk factor levels for AMI. This can be attributed to their diet, rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fat. This diet further supplies eicosapentaenoic acid which influence platelet vessel wall function in an antithrombotic direction. A high level of plasma antithrombin III, raising the anticoagulant activity of the blood, in combination with a genetically high activation threshold for the complement system may further contribute to the resistancy against thromboembolic disorders. Bleeding tendency and susceptibility to infection disorders may be the posssible drawbacks. The data are framed into a hypothesis combining the indications of genetic predispositions and the evidnece of exogenous protective factors, inflicting a coherent enhancement of non-susceptibility to vascular ischemic catastrophies.