Background and aims Tofalars are the inhabitants of the Irkutsk region in Russia, living in highland zone. They concern to the small population groups of the North (756 persons). Last year’s replacement of traditional type of food (many proteins of animal origin) by the European one is marked. Tofalars concern to the Mongoloids. The aim is to estimate state of health and indicators of blood serum at teenagers – tofalars and Caucasian.

Methods Fifty-four teenagers aged from twelve to eighteen years old were examined in Alygdzher settlement. Thirty-two of which are tofalars (seventeen boys and fifteen girls) and twenty-two Caucasian (twelve and ten girls). There were no teenagers with overweight among examined ones; the smaller linear dimension is typical to tofalars in comparison with Caucasians living on this territory. Spectrophotometric and fluorometric methods for studying the lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status have been used.

Results Endocrine system diseases and eating disorders, musculoskeletal system diseases were more often marked at tofalars in comparison with Caucasians (p<0.05). It was established that the average level of total cholesterol and cholesterol of low-density lipoproteins at tofalars more low than at Caucasians (p<0.05). The low levels of lipid peroxidation products – ketodiens and conjugated triens are marked at tofalars, it’s 1,36 times lower (p<0.001) in comparison with Caucasians and also decrease of antioxidants indicators – superoxide dismutase and retinol (1,26 times lower, p<0.05).

Conclusions The differences in health status between tofalars and Caucasians have been observed. The probable explanation to this serves as genetic factors and metabolism features at tofalars in comparison with Caucasians living at the same conditions.