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Cardiovascular system Amazon aborigines with the world's healthiest arteries
Every year millions of people worldwide die because of diseases of the cardiovascular system. For the Tsimane, a people living in the Amazon, such diseases are almost unknown. Responsible for their healthy blood vessels are apparently their diet, a lot of exercise and extensive smoking abstinence.
Millions of deaths from cardiovascular disease
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 17.5 million deaths annually are attributed to diseases of the cardiovascular system. In Germany they are even cause of death number one. Especially widespread is atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis), which can have dramatic consequences. The most common are heart attack and stroke. The tsimans are virtually unknown. The arteries of these Amazonian indigenous people in Bolivia are healthier than any other human group measured so far, according to US researchers.
According to a new study, the people of the Tsimane tribe worldwide have the healthiest arteries of all the population groups measured so far. The Amazon aborigines feed healthily, move a lot and hardly smoke. (Image: gustavofrazao / fotolia.com) Supple blood vessels of 80-year-old natives
The people of the Tsimane tribe have the lowest vascular aging of all population groups measured so far. Arterial calcification is five times rarer among them than in the case of Americans, reports the trade journal "EurekAlert!".
The scientist has found out about Professor Hillard Kaplan from the University of New Mexico (USA). According to the researchers, the blood vessels of an 80-year-old native are on average as supple as that of a mid-fifties from the United States.
Presumably, the diet with low saturated fatty acids, lots of fiber and a lot of exercise and as far as possible no smoking is responsible for the good heart health of the indigenous people.
Low risk of heart disease
To reach their conclusions, the researchers studied a total of 705 elderly members of the Tsimane strain. Both computer tomographic images of the arteries were made and measurements of cholesterol, blood glucose and blood pressure values were made.
As the scientists report in the journal "The Lancet", it was found that 85 percent of the 40- to 94-year-old subjects had no risk for heart disease.
In the magazine "EurekAlert!" A comparison with an older study is cited, which showed that this rate is only 14 percent in older Americans.
Healthy vessels through healthy eating
It has long been known that a healthy diet promotes healthy vessels. In the case of the Amazon aborigines, too, nutrition is regarded as a major reason for the good arteries.
Almost three quarters of their diet (72 percent) consists of carbohydrates and fiber - in the form of rice, cassava, plantains, corn, nuts and fruits. In addition, they eat little proteins through meat and fish (14 percent) and also low in fat.
Furthermore, smoking is hardly common among them. Last but not least, Tsimane are moving a lot compared to other groups of people. For example, while in Germany eleven hours of sitting a day is nothing unusual, the Amazon residents only rest ten percent of their time of day. The rest they spend with hunting, fishing or growing crops.
Lifestyle changes are emerging
The researchers also found in their study that more than half of the tsimans tested had elevated levels of inflammation. "According to conventional thinking, inflammation increases the risk of heart disease," said co-author Professor Randall Thompson.
"However, the inflammations that were common with Tsimane were not associated with an increased risk of heart disease and could instead be the result of high infection rates."
According to the authors of the study, however, there is a change among the natives. "Over the past five years, new roads and the introduction of motorized canoes have dramatically increased access to the nearby market town where sugar and cooking oil are available," said co-author Dr. Ben Trumble.
"This leads to major economic and nutritional changes for the Tsimane."
How important natural lifestyle is
"This study suggests that coronary atherosclerosis could be avoided if people adopt some elements of Tsimane's lifestyle," study author Dr. Gregory S. Thomas: Keep LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar very low, do not smoke, and be physically active.
But these findings are not really new. "Today's recommendations for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, but also other diseases of affluence, are aimed at the same lifestyle and risk factors as diet, exercise, body weight, which have proven to be so protective in this study," said nutritionist Hans Hauner from the Klinikum Rechts der Isar in Munich in a message from the dpa news agency.
Unfortunately, they are still too little known. Every individual has to learn more responsibility in this area.
Heribert Schunkert from the Heart Center Munich and Scientific Advisory Board of the German Heart Foundation also pointed out that it is difficult to get out of the conventions of his respective living environment. Nevertheless: "The study reminds of the importance of natural life change." (Ad)