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Prado-Nóvoa O, Howard KR, Laskaridou E, Reid GR, Zorrilla-Revilla G, Marinik EL, Davy BM, Speakman JR, Davy KP. Validation of predictive equations to estimate resting metabolic rate of females and males across different activity levels. Am J Hum Biol 2024; 36:e24005. [PMID: 37843050 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.24005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Using equations to predict resting metabolic rate (RMR) has yielded different degrees of validity, particularly when sex and different physical activity levels were considered. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine the validity of several different predictive equations to estimate RMR in female and male adults with varying physical activity levels. METHOD We measured the RMR of 50 adults (26 females and 24 males) evenly distributed through activity levels varying from sedentary to ultra-endurance. Body composition was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry and physical activity was monitored by accelerometry. Ten equations to predict RMR were applied (using Body Mass [BM]: Harris & Benedict, 1919; Mifflin et al., 1990 [MifflinBM]; Pontzer et al., 2021 [PontzerBM]; Schofield, 1985; FAO/WHO/UNU, 2004; and using Fat-Free Mass (FFM): Cunningham, 1991; Johnstone et al., 2006; Mifflin et al., 1990 [MifflinFFM]; Nelson et al. 1992; Pontzer et al., 2021 [PontzerFFM]). The accuracy of these equations was analyzed, and the effect of sex and physical activity was evaluated using different accuracy metrics. RESULTS Equations using BM were less accurate for females, and their accuracy was influenced by physical activity and body composition. FFM equations were slightly less accurate for males but there was no obvious effect of physical activity or other sample parameters. PontzerFFM provides higher accuracy than other models independent of the magnitude of RMR, sex, activity levels, and sample characteristics. CONCLUSION Equations using FFM were more accurate than BM equations in our sample. Future studies are needed to test the accuracy of RMR prediction equations in diverse samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olalla Prado-Nóvoa
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Human Integrative Physiology Laboratory, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Kristen R Howard
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Human Integrative Physiology Laboratory, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Eleni Laskaridou
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Human Integrative Physiology Laboratory, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Glen R Reid
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Human Integrative Physiology Laboratory, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Guillermo Zorrilla-Revilla
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Human Integrative Physiology Laboratory, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
- Laboratorio de Evolución Humana, Departamento de Historia, Geografía y Comunicación, Universidad de Burgos, Burgos, Spain
| | - Elaina L Marinik
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Human Integrative Physiology Laboratory, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Brenda M Davy
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Human Integrative Physiology Laboratory, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - John R Speakman
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Metabolic Health, Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kevin P Davy
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Human Integrative Physiology Laboratory, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
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2
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Ocobock C. Human cold adaptation: An unfinished agenda v2.0. Am J Hum Biol 2024; 36:e23937. [PMID: 37345289 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research on human extreme cold climate adaptations has benefitted from a recent resurgence since Ted Steegmann laid out his Human Cold Adaptation Agenda in 2007. Human biologists have drastically expanded our knowledge in this area during the last 15 years, but we still have a great deal more work to do to fulfill the cold climate adaptation agenda. METHODS Here, I follow Steegmann's example by providing a review of cold climate adaptations and setting forth a new, expanded agenda. RESULTS I review the foundational work on cold climate adaptations including classic Bergmann, Allen, and Thomson rules as well as early work assessing metabolic differences among Indigenous cold climate populations. From there, I discuss some of the groundbreaking work currently taking place on cold climate adaptations such as brown adipose tissue (a heat generating organ), physical activity levels, metabolic rates, and behavioral/cultural mechanisms. Finally, I present a path forward for future research with a focus on some of the basic extreme cold adaptations as well as how human biologists should approach the effects of climate change on human health and well-being, particularly within a cold climate context. CONCLUSION The Arctic has felt the dramatic effects of climate change sooner and more acutely than other parts of the world, making it an ideal location for studying both cold climate adaptations and climate change resilience. Human biologists have a great deal to contribute to the conversation on not only adaptations to extreme cold, but also the ways in which climate change is being embodied by cold climate populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara Ocobock
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- Department of Gender Studies, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Institute for Educational Initiatives, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
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3
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Leonard WR. Pearl Memorial Lecture. Humans at the extremes: Exploring human adaptation to ecological and social stressors. Am J Hum Biol 2024; 36:e24010. [PMID: 37974340 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.24010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The field of human biology has long explored how human populations have adapted to extreme environmental circumstances. Yet, it has become increasingly clear that conditions of social stress, poverty, and lifestyle change play equally important roles in shaping human biological variation and health. In this paper, I provide a brief background on the foundational human adaptability research of the International Biological Programme (IBP) from the 1960s, highlighting how its successes and critiques have shaped current research directions in the field. I then discuss and reflect on my own field research that has examined the influence of both environmental and social stresses on human populations living in different ecosystems: the Peruvian Andes, the Siberian arctic, and the Bolivian rainforest. Finally, I consider how the papers in this special issue advance our understanding of human adaptability to extreme conditions and offer directions for future research. Drawing on our field's distinctive evolutionary and biocultural perspectives, human biologists are uniquely positioned to examine how the interplay between social and ecological domains influences the human condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Leonard
- Department of Anthropology & Program in Global Health Studies, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
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4
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Niclou A, Sarma M, Levy S, Ocobock C. To the extreme! How biological anthropology can inform exercise physiology in extreme environments. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2023; 284:111476. [PMID: 37423419 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.111476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
The fields of biological anthropology and exercise physiology are closely related and can provide mutually beneficial insights into human performance. These fields often use similar methods and are both interested in how humans function, perform, and respond in extreme environments. However, these two fields have different perspectives, ask different questions, and work within different theoretical frameworks and timescales. Biological anthropologists and exercise physiologists can greatly benefit from working together when examining human adaptation, acclimatization, and athletic performance in the extremes of heat, cold, and high-altitude. Here we review the adaptations and acclimatizations in these three different extreme environments. We then examine how this work has informed and built upon exercise physiology research on human performance. Finally, we present an agenda for moving forward, hopefully, with these two fields working more closely together to produce innovative research that improves our holistic understanding of human performance capacities informed by evolutionary theory, modern human acclimatization, and the desire to produce immediate and direct benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Niclou
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America. https://twitter.com/fiat_luxandra
| | - Mallika Sarma
- Human Space Flight Lab, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America. https://twitter.com/skyy_mal
| | - Stephanie Levy
- Department of Anthropology, CUNY Hunter College, New York, NY, United States of America; New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, NY, United States of America. https://twitter.com/slevyscience
| | - Cara Ocobock
- University of Notre Dame Department of Anthropology, Notre Dame, IN, United States of America; Eck Institute for Global Health, Institute for Educational Initiatives, University of Notre Dame, United States of America.
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5
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Ocobock C, Turunen M, Soppela P, Rasmus S. The impact of winter warming and more frequent icing events on reindeer herder occupational safety, health, and wellbeing. Am J Hum Biol 2023; 35:e23790. [PMID: 36638266 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Northern Finland, like the rest of the Arctic, has experienced increases in mean annual temperature, the number of winter rains, the number of thaw-freeze days, the number of extremely warm weather events, and a shortened snow season. These changes have produced numerous problems for reindeer herders whose livelihoods rely on a healthy ecosystem with predictable weather patterns. METHODS We performed a scoping literature review to assess how climate change induced extreme weather has negatively impacted reindeer herding as well as the health and wellbeing of reindeer herders. RESULTS Late snow cover negatively impacts reindeer herding through a more widely dispersed herd that increases the work to gather reindeer, leads to reduced calf weight, and results in less meat for sale. This increased labor, especially in extreme cold conditions, can also negatively impact reindeer herder health. Icing due to thaw-freeze and rain-on-snow events makes it impossible for reindeer to dig through the snow to access lichens, increasing the need for reindeer herders to keep the herd in winter enclosures and provide supplemental feed. CONCLUSION Climate change induced weather events such as late snow cover and icing increase reindeer herder efforts and expenses, put their livelihood at risk, and put their health at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara Ocobock
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA.,Eck Institute for Global Health, Institute for Educational Initiatives, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Minna Turunen
- Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland
| | - Päivi Soppela
- Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland
| | - Sirpa Rasmus
- Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland.,Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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6
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Sun Y, Liu Y, Yin X, Li M, Zhang T, Zhang F, Guo Y, Sun P. The predictive equations of resting metabolic rate for
T
ibetan adolescents aged 13–18 in
T
ibet,
C
hina. Am J Hum Biol 2022; 35:e23845. [PMID: 36484179 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The resting metabolic rate (RMR) predictive equations suitable for Tibetan adolescents in Tibet, China, were developed to provide a reference for their reasonable energy intake. METHODS We measured RMR by indirect calorimetry and body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis in 325 Tibetan adolescents aged 13-18 years in Tibet, China. Stepwise regression analysis was used to develop the predictive equations. Pearson correlation analysis, paired sample t test, bias rate, concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and Bland-Altman were used to verify the validity of the predictive equations. RESULTS The R2 of Model 8 (0.642) was larger than Model 2 (boys, 0.642; girls, 0.533) and Model 7 (0.540), and Model 10 (0.534) was larger than Model 4 (boys, 0.531; girls, 0.443) and Model 9 (0.477).Compared with the existing predictive equations, the correlation (0.68-0.84) between the predicted values and the measured values, CCC (0.74-0.81) and consistency (Similar proportions within the upper and lower limits but lower differences) were higher and the bias rate (-1.0% to -2.5%) and root mean square error (207.4-263.7 kcal/day) were lower in this study. By comprehensive comparison, Model 8 and Model 10 were more valid. CONCLUSIONS The existing predictive equations cannot accurately predict the RMR of Tibetan adolescents in Tibet, China. In this study, the age segmentation predictive equations with age, sex, and fat free mass (FFM) as independent variables were more valid. The predictive equations were as follows: RMR (kcal/day) = 50.1 × FFM (kg) - 202.8 × Sex (F: 0; M: 1) - 72.1 × Age + 930.3, 13-15 years; RMR (kcal/day) = 58.4 × FFM (kg) - 441.1 × Sex (F: 0; M: 1) - 702.2, 16-18 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Sun
- College of Physical Education Ludong University Yantai Shandong China
| | - Yuan Liu
- College of Physical Education & Health East China Normal University Shanghai China
| | - Xiaojian Yin
- College of Economics and Management Shanghai Institute of Technology Shanghai China
| | - Ming Li
- College of Physical Education & Health East China Normal University Shanghai China
| | - Ting Zhang
- College of Physical Education & Health East China Normal University Shanghai China
| | - Feng Zhang
- College of Physical Education & Health East China Normal University Shanghai China
| | - Yaru Guo
- College of Physical Education & Health East China Normal University Shanghai China
| | - Pengwei Sun
- College of Physical Education & Health East China Normal University Shanghai China
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7
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Ocobock C, Soppela P, Turunen MT. No association of BMI and body adiposity with cardiometabolic biomarkers among a small sample of reindeer herders of sub-Arctic Finland. Int J Circumpolar Health 2022; 81:2024960. [PMID: 35073832 PMCID: PMC8794070 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2021.2024960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The rising global obesity rate is alarming due to its real health and socioeconomic consequences. Finland, like other circumpolar regions, is also experiencing a rise in obesity . Here we assess BMI, body adiposity, and measures of cardiometabolic health among a small population of reindeer herders in sub-Arctic Finland. We collected anthropometric and biomarker measures at two different time points: October 2018 (N = 20) and January 2019 (N = 21) with a total of 25 unique individuals across the data collection periods (ages 20-64). Anthropometric measures included height, weight, age, and body composition. Biomarkers included measures of cholesterol, fasting glucose, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Over 70% of this sample was classified as "overweight" and "obese" as categorised by BMI and 64% classified as "overfat" based on body fat percentage. However, there was no significant relationship between BMI and body fat percentage with any of the measured biomarkers. Although the sample size is small, the results of this study suggest there might not be a strong correlation between BMI, body adiposity, and cardiometabolic health indices within this population - a pattern that has been documented elsewhere. However, further study is needed to confirm this lack of a correlation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara Ocobock
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Institute for Educational Initiatives, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Päivi Soppela
- Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland
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8
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Ocobock C, Soppela P, Turunen M, Stenbäck V, Herzig KH. Brown adipose tissue thermogenesis among a small sample of reindeer herders from sub-Arctic Finland. J Physiol Anthropol 2022; 41:17. [PMID: 35443705 PMCID: PMC9022279 DOI: 10.1186/s40101-022-00290-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Interest in human physiological responses to cold stress have seen a resurgence in recent years with a focus on brown adipose tissue (BAT), a mitochondria dense fat specialized for heat production. However, a majority of the work examining BAT has been conducted among temperate climate populations. Methods To expand our understanding of BAT thermogenesis in a cold climate population, we measured, using indirect calorimetry and thermal imaging, metabolic rate and body surface temperatures of BAT-positive and BAT-negative regions at room temperature, and mild cold exposure of resting participants from a small sample of reindeer herders (N = 22, 6 females) from sub-Arctic Finland. Results We found that most herders experienced a significant mean 8.7% increase in metabolic rates, preferentially metabolized fatty acids, and maintained relatively warmer body surface temperatures at the supraclavicular region (known BAT location) compared to the sternum, which has no associated BAT. These results indicate that the herders in this sample exhibit active BAT thermogenesis in response to mild cold exposure. Conclusions This study adds to the rapidly growing body of work looking at the physiological and thermoregulatory significance of BAT and the important role it may play among cold stressed populations. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40101-022-00290-4.
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9
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Levy SB, Klimova TM, Zakharova RN, Fedorov AI, Fedorova VI, Baltakhinova ME, Bondy M, Atallah D, Thompson-Vasquez J, Dong K, Debertine A, Leonard WR. Brown adipose tissue thermogenesis among young adults in northeastern Siberia and Midwest United States and its relationship with other biological adaptations to cold climates. Am J Hum Biol 2022; 34:e23723. [PMID: 35156253 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Recent research suggests that brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays a functional role in non-shivering thermogenesis; however, few studies have examined population variation in BAT or its relationship with other mechanisms of adaptation to cold stress. This study characterized BAT thermogenesis and other adaptive responses to low temperatures among Indigenous Siberian young adults and young adults living near Chicago, IL. MATERIALS AND METHODS We recruited 72 Yakut participants (42 females; 30 males) and 54 participants in Evanston, IL (40 females; 14 males). Anthropometric dimensions and resting metabolic rate (RMR) were measured, and we calculated percent divergence in RMR from expected values (divRMR). We also quantified change in supraclavicular temperature, sternum temperature, and energy expenditure after a mild cooling condition. RESULTS Participants in Yakutia were less likely to shiver during the cooling condition (p < .05) and exhibited significantly greater evidence of BAT thermogenesis, warmer sternum temperatures, and higher divRMR than participants in Evanston (p < .05). Additionally, the relationship between change in supraclavicular temperature and energy expenditure differed between the two samples. CONCLUSIONS Yakut young adults displayed greater evidence of BAT thermogenesis in response to mild cooling compared with young adults living near Chicago, IL. Furthermore, the relationship between BAT thermogenesis and change in energy expenditure appears to be stronger among Yakut adults. Adults that exhibited greater metabolic response to cold stress, such as higher BAT thermogenesis and divRMR, maintained warmer sternum temperatures. These results highlight the degree to which adaptation to cold climates involves multiple integrated biological pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie B Levy
- Department of Anthropology, CUNY Hunter College, New York City, New York, USA.,New York Consortium in Evolution Primatology, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Tatiana M Klimova
- North-Eastern Federal University named M.K. Ammosov, Yakutsk, Russia.,Yakutsk Scientific Center for Complex Medical Problems, Yakutsk, Russia
| | - Raisa N Zakharova
- North-Eastern Federal University named M.K. Ammosov, Yakutsk, Russia
| | | | | | | | - Madison Bondy
- Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Dania Atallah
- College of Medicine, Kansas City University, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
| | | | - Kaylin Dong
- School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anne Debertine
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - William R Leonard
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
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10
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Ocobock C, Niclou A. Commentary—fat but fit…and cold? Potential evolutionary and environmental drivers of metabolically healthy obesity. Evol Med Public Health 2022; 10:400-408. [PMID: 36071988 PMCID: PMC9447378 DOI: 10.1093/emph/eoac030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
As global obesity rates continue to rise, it is important to understand the origin, role and range of human variation of body mass index (BMI) in assessing health and healthcare. A growing body of evidence suggests that BMI is a poor indicator of health across populations, and that there may be a metabolically healthy obese phenotype. Here, we review the reasons why BMI is an inadequate tool for assessing cardiometabolic health. We then suggest that cold climate adaptations may also render BMI an uninformative metric. Underlying evolutionary and environmental drivers may allow for heat conserving larger body sizes without necessarily increasing metabolic health risks. However, there may also be a potential mismatch between modern obesogenic environments and adaptations to cold climates, highlighting the need to further investigate the potential for metabolically healthy obese phenotypes among circumpolar and other populations as well as the broader meaning for metabolic health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara Ocobock
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame , Notre Dame, IN, USA
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Institute for Educational Initiatives, University of Notre Dame , Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Alexandra Niclou
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame , Notre Dame, IN, USA
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11
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Ocobock C, Soppela P, Turunen M, Stenbäck V, Herzig KH, Rimbach R, Pontzer H. Reindeer herders from subarctic Finland exhibit high total energy expenditure and low energy intake during the autumn herd roundup. Am J Hum Biol 2021; 34:e23676. [PMID: 34520587 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE High levels of total energy expenditure (TEE, kcal/day) have been documented among numerous human populations such as tropical climate horticulturalists and high-altitude agriculturalists. However, less work has been conducted among highly physically active cold climate populations. METHODS In October 2018, TEE was measured using the doubly labeled water (TEEDLW , N = 10) and flex-heart rate methods (TEEHR , N = 24) for 6-14 days among reindeer herders (20-62 years) in northern Finland during an especially physically demanding, but not seasonally representative, period of the year for herders-the annual reindeer herd roundup. Self-reported dietary intake was also collected during TEE measurement periods. TEE was then compared to that of hunter gatherer, farming, and market economies. RESULTS During the herd roundup, herders expended a mean of 4183 ± 949 kcal/day as measured by the DLW method, which was not significantly different from TEEHR . Mean caloric intake was 1718 ± 709 kcal/day, and was significantly lower than TEEDLW and TEEHR (p < .001). Herder TEEDLW was significantly higher than that of hunter gatherer (p = .0014) and market (p < .0014) economy populations; however, herder TEEDLW was not different from that of farming populations (p = .91). CONCLUSION High TEE and low caloric intake among herders reflect the extreme demands placed on herders during the annual herd round up. Although TEEDLW was similar between cold climate herders and hot climate farming populations, there are likely differences in how that TEE is comprised, reflecting the local ecologies of these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara Ocobock
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA.,Eck Institute for Global Health, Institute for Educational Initiatives, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Päivi Soppela
- University of Lapland, Arctic Centre, Rovaniemi, Finland
| | - Minna Turunen
- University of Lapland, Arctic Centre, Rovaniemi, Finland
| | - Ville Stenbäck
- Research Unit of Biomedicine, Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.,Biocenter Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Karl-Heinz Herzig
- Research Unit of Biomedicine, Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.,Institute of Pediatrics, Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Rebecca Rimbach
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,School of Animal, Plant & Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Herman Pontzer
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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12
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Ocobock C, Lacy S, Niclou A. Between a rock and a cold place: Neanderthal biocultural cold adaptations. Evol Anthropol 2021; 30:262-279. [PMID: 33797824 DOI: 10.1002/evan.21894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
A large body of work focuses on the unique aspects of Neanderthal anatomy, inferred physiology, and behavior to test the assumption that Neanderthals were hyper-adapted to living in cold environments. This research has expanded over the years to include previously unexplored and potentially adaptive features such as brown adipose tissue and fire-usage. Here we review the current state of knowledge of Neanderthal cold adaptations along morphological, physiological, and behavioral lines. While highlighting foundational as well as recent work, we also emphasize key areas for future research. Despite thriving in a variety of climates, it is well-accepted that Neanderthals appear to be the most cold-adapted of known fossil hominin groups; however, there are still many unknowns. There is a great deal yet to be uncovered about the nature and manifestation of Neanderthal adaptation and how the synergy of biology and culture helped buffer them against extreme and variable environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara Ocobock
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, USA.,Eck Institute for Global Health, Institute for Educational Initiatives, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, USA
| | - Sarah Lacy
- Department of Anthropology, California State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, California, USA
| | - Alexandra Niclou
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, USA
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13
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Rodríguez J, Willmes C, Mateos A. Shivering in the Pleistocene. Human adaptations to cold exposure in Western Europe from MIS 14 to MIS 11. J Hum Evol 2021; 153:102966. [PMID: 33711721 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2021.102966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
During the mid-Middle Pleistocene MIS 14 to MIS 11, humans spread through Western Europe from the Mediterranean peninsulas to the sub-Arctic region, and they did so not only during the warm periods but also during the glacial stages. In doing so, they were exposed to harsh environmental conditions, including low or extremely low temperatures. Here we review the distribution of archeological assemblages in Western Europe from MIS 14 to MIS 11 and obtain estimates of the climatic conditions at those localities. Estimates of the mean annual temperature, mean winter and summer temperatures, and the lowest temperature of the coldest month for each locality were obtained from the Oscillayers database. Our results show that hominins endured cold exposure not only during the glacial stages but also during the interglacials, with winter temperatures below 0 °C at many localities. The efficacy of the main physiological and behavioral adaptations that might have been used by the Middle Pleistocene hominins to cope with low temperatures is evaluated using a simple heat-loss model. Our results suggest that physiological and anatomical adaptations alone, such as increasing basal metabolic rate and subcutaneous adipose tissue, were not enough to tolerate the low winter temperatures of Western Europe, even during the MIS 13 and MIS 11 interglacials. In contrast, the use of a simple fur bed cover appears to have been an extremely effective response to low temperatures. We suggest that advanced fire production and control technology were not necessary for the colonization of northern Europe during MIS 14 and MIS 12. We propose that Middle Pleistocene European populations were able to endure the low temperatures of those glacial stages combining anatomical and physiological adaptations with behavioral responses, such as the use of shelter and simple fur clothes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Rodríguez
- Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca 3, 09002, Burgos, Spain
| | - Christian Willmes
- Institute of Geography, University of Cologne, 50923, Cologne, Germany
| | - Ana Mateos
- Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca 3, 09002, Burgos, Spain.
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14
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Ocobock C, Soppela P, Turunen MT, Stenbäck V, Herzig K. Elevated resting metabolic rates among female, but not male, reindeer herders from subarctic Finland. Am J Hum Biol 2020; 32:e23432. [DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Cara Ocobock
- Department of Anthropology University of Notre Dame South Bend Indiana USA
- SUNY University at Albany Albany New York USA
| | - Päivi Soppela
- Arctic Centre University of Lapland Rovaniemi Finland
| | | | - Ville Stenbäck
- Research Unit of Biomedicine, Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine Oulu University Hospital Oulu Finland
- Biocenter Oulu Oulu Finland
| | - Karl‐Heinz Herzig
- Research Unit of Biomedicine, Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine Oulu University Hospital Oulu Finland
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poznan Poland
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15
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Levy SB, Klimova TM, Zakharova RN, Federov AI, Fedorova VI, Baltakhinova ME, Leonard WR. Brown adipose tissue, energy expenditure, and biomarkers of cardio‐metabolic health among the Yakut (Sakha) of northeastern Siberia. Am J Hum Biol 2018; 30:e23175. [DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Revised: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 07/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie B. Levy
- Department of Anthropology Yale University New Haven Connecticut
- Department of Anthropology CUNY Hunter College New York City New York
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16
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Using modern human cortical bone distribution to test the systemic robusticity hypothesis. J Hum Evol 2018; 119:64-82. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2018.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Revised: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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17
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Leonard WR. Centennial perspective on human adaptability. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2018; 165:813-833. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- William R. Leonard
- Department of Anthropology; Northwestern University; Evanston Illinois 60208
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18
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Laursen TL, Zak RB, Shute RJ, Heesch MWS, Dinan NE, Bubak MP, La Salle DT, Slivka DR. Leptin, adiponectin, and ghrelin responses to endurance exercise in different ambient conditions. Temperature (Austin) 2017; 4:166-175. [PMID: 28680932 DOI: 10.1080/23328940.2017.1294235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Excessive positive energy balance is a major factor leading to obesity. The ability to alter the appetite-regulating hormones leptin, adiponectin, and ghrelin may help decrease excessive energy intake. Exercise and exposure to extreme temperatures can independently affect these appetite-regulating hormones. PURPOSE To determine the effect of exercising in different environmental conditions on the circulating concentrations of leptin, adiponectin, and ghrelin. METHODS Eleven recreationally-trained male participants completed 3 separate 1 h cycling bouts at 60% Wmax in hot, cold, and room temperature conditions (33°C, 7°C, 20°C), followed by a 3 h recovery at room temperature. Blood was drawn pre-exercise, post-exercise, and 3 h post-exercise. Hematocrit and hemoglobin were measured to account for change in plasma volume. RESULTS Leptin concentrations were lower at post and 3 h post-exercise compared with pre-exercise, with and without correction for plasma volume shifts, regardless of temperature (p < 0.05). Adiponectin was higher post-exercise compared with pre-exercise (p = 0.021) but not 3 h post-exercise (p = 0.084) without correction for plasma volume shifts. However, adiponectin concentrations were not different at any time point when plasma volume shifts were accounted for (p > 0.05). Total ghrelin and acylated ghrelin concentrations were not affected at post and 3 h post-exercise compared with pre-exercise, with and without correcting for plasma volume shifts, regardless of ambient temperature (p > 0.05). No differences in leptin, adiponectin, or ghrelin were found between trials (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Temperature does not affect the circulating concentrations of appetite-regulating hormones during an acute bout of endurance exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terence L Laursen
- School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, Exercise Physiology Laboratory, University of Nebraska-Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Roksana B Zak
- School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, Exercise Physiology Laboratory, University of Nebraska-Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Robert J Shute
- School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, Exercise Physiology Laboratory, University of Nebraska-Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | | | - Nicholas E Dinan
- School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, Exercise Physiology Laboratory, University of Nebraska-Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Matthew P Bubak
- School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, Exercise Physiology Laboratory, University of Nebraska-Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - D Taylor La Salle
- School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, Exercise Physiology Laboratory, University of Nebraska-Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Dustin R Slivka
- School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, Exercise Physiology Laboratory, University of Nebraska-Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
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19
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Maddux SD, Butaric LN, Yokley TR, Franciscus RG. Ecogeographic variation across morphofunctional units of the human nose. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2016; 162:103-119. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Revised: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 09/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Scott D. Maddux
- Center for Anatomical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center; 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard Fort Worth TX 76107 USA
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences; University of Missouri; M263 Medical Sciences Building Columbia MO 65212 USA
| | - Lauren N. Butaric
- Department of Anatomy; Des Moines University; 3200 Grand Avenue Des Moines IA 50312 USA
| | - Todd R. Yokley
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology; Metropolitan State University of Denver; Campus Box 28, P.O. Box 173362 Denver CO 80217 USA
| | - Robert G. Franciscus
- Department of Anthropology, University of Iowa; 114 Macbride Hall Iowa City IA 52242 USA
- Department of Orthodontics; University of Iowa; 114 Macbride Hall Iowa City IA 52242 USA
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20
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Leonard WR, Levy SB, Tarskaia LA, Klimova TM, Fedorova VI, Baltakhinova ME, Krivoshapkin VG, Snodgrass JJ. Seasonal variation in basal metabolic rates among the Yakut (Sakha) of Northeastern Siberia. Am J Hum Biol 2014; 26:437-45. [PMID: 24644044 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2013] [Revised: 01/25/2014] [Accepted: 01/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Previous research has shown that indigenous circumpolar populations have elevated basal metabolic rates (BMRs), yet few studies have explored whether metabolic rates increase during the winter. This study addresses this gap by examining seasonal variation in BMR and its associations with thyroid function and lifestyle factors among the Yakut (Sakha) of Siberia. METHODS Anthropometric dimensions, BMR, and thyroid hormone levels (free triiodothyronine [fT3], free thyroxine [fT4], thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH]) were measured on two occasions (July/August, 2009 and January 2011) on a sample of 94 Yakut (Sakha) adults (35 men, 59 women) from the rural village of Berdygestiakh, Sakha Republic, Russia. RESULTS Seasonal changes in BMR varied by age. Younger Yakut adults (19-49 years) showed significant elevations in winter-time BMR of 6% (P < 0.05), whereas older individuals (≥50 years) showed modest declines (2%; n.s.). Both younger and older Yakut men and women showed increased respiratory quotients during the winter. FT3 and fT4 levels significantly declined during the winter in both younger and older Yakut men and women (P < 0.05). Lifestyle factors were significant predictors of BMR variation, particularly among older men and women. CONCLUSIONS Among the Yakut, increased wintertime BMR was observed among younger but not older adults, whereas all adults showed sharp reductions in free thyroid hormone levels during the winter. Among men, greater participation in subsistence activities was associated with increased BMRs and greater fat oxidation. Among women, variation in food use had the strongest impact on metabolic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- W R Leonard
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
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21
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Wells JCK. Ethnic variability in adiposity, thrifty phenotypes and cardiometabolic risk: addressing the full range of ethnicity, including those of mixed ethnicity. Obes Rev 2012; 13 Suppl 2:14-29. [PMID: 23107256 DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-789x.2012.01034.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Ethnic groups vary in cardiometabolic risk, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Several components of body composition variability (fat/lean ratio, fat distribution, lean mass composition and metabolism, and adipose tissue biology) are increasingly linked with cardiometabolic risk and vary substantially across ethnic groups. Constituents of lean mass are proposed to contribute to 'metabolic capacity', a generic trait favouring the maintenance of homeostasis. Adiposity is proposed to contribute to 'metabolic load', which at higher levels challenges metabolic homeostasis, elevating cardiometabolic risk. Ethnic differences in body composition, representing different load-capacity ratios, may therefore contribute to ethnic variability in cardiometabolic risk. Ecological and evolutionary factors potentially contributing to ethnic variability in body composition are explored. In contemporary populations, clinicians encounter an increasing range of ethnicity, along with many individuals of mixed-ethnic ancestry. Increasing understanding of the contribution of body composition to cardiometabolic risk may reduce the need to treat ethnic groups as qualitatively different. A conceptual model is proposed, treating insulin sensitivity and stroke risk as composite functions of body composition variables. Operationalizing this model may potentially improve the ability to assess cardiovascular risk across the full ethnicity spectrum, and to predict cardiometabolic consequences of excess weight gain.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C K Wells
- Childhood Nutrition Research Centre, UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford St., London, UK.
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22
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23
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Wells JCK. Ecogeographical associations between climate and human body composition: analyses based on anthropometry and skinfolds. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2011; 147:169-86. [PMID: 22212891 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.21591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2011] [Accepted: 06/27/2011] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
In the 19th century, two "ecogeographical rules" were proposed hypothesizing associations of climate with mammalian body size and proportions. Data on human body weight and relative leg length support these rules; however, it is unknown whether such associations are attributable to lean tissue (the heat-producing component) or fat (energy stores). Data on weight, height, and two skinfold thickness were obtained from the literature for 137 nonindustrialized populations, providing 145 male and 115 female individual samples. A variety of indices of adiposity and lean mass were analyzed. Preliminary analyses indicated secular increases in skinfolds in men but not women, and associations of age and height with lean mass in both sexes. Decreasing annual temperature was associated with increasing body mass index (BMI), and increasing triceps but not subscapular skinfold. After adjusting for skinfolds, decreasing temperature remained associated with increasing BMI. These results indicate that colder environments favor both greater peripheral energy stores, and greater lean mass. Contrasting results for triceps and subscapular skinfolds might be due to adaptive strategies either constraining central adiposity in cold environments to reduce cardiovascular risk, or favoring central adiposity in warmer environments to maintain energetic support of the immune system. Polynesian populations were analyzed separately and contradicted all of the climate trends, indicating support for the hypothesis that they are cold-adapted despite occupying a tropical region. It is unclear whether such associations emerge through natural selection or through trans-generational and life-course plasticity. These findings nevertheless aid understanding of the wide variability in human physique and adiposity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan C K Wells
- Childhood Nutrition Research Center, UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, UK.
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24
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Cepon TJ, Snodgrass JJ, Leonard WR, Tarskaia LA, Klimova TM, Fedorova VI, Baltakhinova ME, Krivoshapkin VG. Circumpolar adaptation, social change, and the development of autoimmune thyroid disorders among the Yakut (Sakha) of Siberia. Am J Hum Biol 2011; 23:703-9. [DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.21200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2011] [Revised: 05/02/2011] [Accepted: 05/16/2011] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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25
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Snodgrass JJ, Leonard WR, Sorensen MV, Tarskaia LA, Mosher MJ. The influence of basal metabolic rate on blood pressure among indigenous Siberians. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2008; 137:145-55. [PMID: 18470897 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.20851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Hypertension is an important global health issue and is currently increasing at a rapid pace in most industrializing nations. Although a number of risk factors have been linked with the development of hypertension, including obesity, high dietary sodium, and chronic psychosocial stress, these factors cannot fully explain the variation in blood pressure and hypertension rates that occurs within and between populations. The present study uses data collected on adults from three indigenous Siberian populations (Evenki, Buryat, and Yakut [Sakha]) to test the hypothesis of Luke et al. (Hypertension 43 (2004) 555-560) that basal metabolic rate (BMR) and blood pressure are positively associated independent of body size. When adjusted for body size and composition, as well as potentially confounding variables such as age, smoking status, ethnicity, and degree of urbanization, BMR was positively correlated with systolic blood pressure (SBP; P < 0.01) and pulse pressure (PP; P < 0.01); BMR showed a trend with diastolic blood pressure (DBP; P = 0.08). Thus, higher BMR is associated with higher SBP and PP; this is opposite the well-documented inverse relationship between physical activity and blood pressure. If the influence of BMR on blood pressure is confirmed, the systematically elevated BMRs of indigenous Siberians may help explain the relatively high blood pressures and hypertension rates documented among native Siberians in the post-Soviet period. These findings underscore the importance of considering the influence of biological adaptation to regional environmental conditions in structuring health changes associated with economic development and lifestyle change.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Josh Snodgrass
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
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26
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Froehle AW. Climate variables as predictors of basal metabolic rate: New equations. Am J Hum Biol 2008; 20:510-29. [DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.20769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
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27
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Mäkinen TM. Human cold exposure, adaptation, and performance in high latitude environments. Am J Hum Biol 2007; 19:155-64. [PMID: 17286263 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.20627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cold exposure is present to significant amounts in the everyday occupational and leisure time activities of circumpolar residents. A cross-sectional population study demonstrated that Finns reported being exposed to cold on average 4% of their total time. Factors modifying cold exposure are: age, gender, employment, education, health, and amount of physical exercise. Several symptoms and complaints are associated with wintertime cold exposure and start to appear more commonly when temperatures decrease below -10 degrees C. Urban circumpolar people do not evidently demonstrate cold acclimatization responses in terms of changes in thermoregulation, probably due to behavioral factors (adequate protective clothing, short cold exposures, and high housing temperatures). With regard to performance, we observed that moderate cold exposure, which may occur in everyday life, affects cognition negatively through the mechanisms of distraction and both positively and negatively through the mechanism of arousal (increased vigilance). It seems that especially simple cognitive tasks are adversely affected by cold, while in more complex tasks performance may even improve in mild or moderate cold. Repeated, short cold exposures in the laboratory, causing cold habituation responses, do not markedly improve neuromuscular or cognitive performance. The article discusses the functional significance of cold exposure, adaptation, and the specific environmental conditions and physiological mechanisms that affect behavior and performance in high latitude environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiina M Mäkinen
- Centre for Arctic Medicine, Thule Institute, Department of Public Health Sciences and General Practice, FIN-90014, University of Oulu, Finland.
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Snodgrass JJ, Sorensen MV, Tarskaia LA, Leonard WR. Adaptive dimensions of health research among indigenous Siberians. Am J Hum Biol 2007; 19:165-80. [PMID: 17286259 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.20624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Present evidence suggests that modern humans were the first hominid species to successfully colonize high-latitude environments (> or =55 degrees N). Given evidence for a recent (<200,000 years) lower latitude naissance of modern humans, the global dispersal and successful settlement of arctic and subarctic regions represent an unprecedented adaptive shift. This adaptive shift, which included cultural, behavioral, and biological dimensions, allowed human populations to cope with the myriad environmental stressors encountered in circumpolar regions. Although unique morphological and physiological adaptations among contemporary northern residents have been recognized for decades, human biologists are only now beginning to consider whether biological adaptations to regional environmental conditions influence health changes associated with economic modernization and lifestyle change. Recent studies have documented basal metabolic rates (BMRs) among indigenous Siberian populations that are systematically elevated compared to lower latitude groups; this metabolic elevation apparently is a physiological adaptation to cold stress experienced in the circumpolar environment. Important health implications of metabolic adaptation are suggested by research with the Yakut (Sakha), Evenki, and Buriat of Siberia. BMR is significantly positively correlated with blood pressure, independently of body size, body composition, and various potentially confounding variables (e.g., age and smoking). Further, this research has documented a significant negative association between BMR and LDL cholesterol, which remains after controlling for potential confounders; this suggests that high metabolic turnover among indigenous Siberians has a protective effect with regard to plasma lipid levels. These results underscore the importance of incorporating an evolutionary approach into health research among northern populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Josh Snodgrass
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA.
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29
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Kouda K, Nakamura H, Kohno H, Okuda T, Higashine Y, Hisamori K, Ishihara H, Tokunaga R, Sonoda Y. Metabolic response to short-term 4-day energy restriction in a controlled study. Environ Health Prev Med 2006; 11:89-92. [PMID: 21432368 DOI: 10.1007/bf02898148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2005] [Accepted: 12/15/2005] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Metabolic rate is affected not solely by diet but also by environmental characteristics such as climate and seasonal changes in day length. In the present study, we conducted a controlled study in which we observed metabolic response to short-term energy restriction (ER). MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-two subjects were divided randomly into a slight ER group and a moderate ER group. The energy intake per day for slight ER vs moderate ER was 1462 kcal vs 1114 kcal. During the 4-day study periods, the same daily timetable, which consists of nutrition, exercise, sleeping and others, was imposed on both groups. The same environment was also provided to both groups. RESULTS After the 4-day ER, significant decreases in body weight and basal metabolic rate (BMR) were shown in both groups. The decrease in body weight was 2% of the baseline level in both groups, and the decreases in the BMR were 6% of baseline levels in the slight ER group and 13% in the moderate ER group. The decrease in BMR in the moderate ER group was significantly larger than that in the slight ER group. CONCLUSIONS In a controlled study of short-term ER, we observed a significant decrease in BMR. There was a positive association between the degree of ER and the reduction in BMR. Reductions in BMR were greater than those in body weight. It, thus, appears that the minimization of weight loss is due to dramatic decreases in BMR. This suggests the existence of metabolic resistance against ER.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsuyasu Kouda
- Department of Hygiene, Kansai Medical University, 10-15 Fumizono-cho, 570-8506, Moriguchi, Osaka, Moriguchi, Japan,
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Bioenergetic perspectives on Neanderthal thermoregulatory and activity budgets. NEANDERTHALS REVISITED: NEW APPROACHES AND PERSPECTIVES 2006. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4020-5121-0_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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31
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Froehle AW, Schoeninger MJ. Intraspecies variation in BMR does not affect estimates of early hominin total daily energy expenditure. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2006; 131:552-9. [PMID: 16941603 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.20475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
We conducted a meta-analysis of 45 studies reporting basal metabolic rate (BMR) data for Homo sapiens and Pan troglodytes to determine the effects of sex, age, and latitude (a proxy for climate, in humans only). BMR was normalized for body size using fat-free mass in humans and body mass in chimpanzees. We found no effect of sex in either species and no age effect in chimpanzees. In humans, juveniles differed significantly from adults (ANCOVA: P < 0.001), and senescent adults differed significantly from adults younger than 50 years (P < 0.001). Europeans differed significantly from tropical populations (P < 0.001). On the basis of these observations, we derived new equations describing the relationship between BMR and body size, and used them to predict total daily energy expenditure (TEE) in four early hominin species. Our predictions concur with previous TEE estimates (i.e. Leonard and Robertson: Am J Phys Anthropol 102 (1997) 265-281), and support the conclusion that TEE increased greatly with H. erectus. Our results show that intraspecific variation in BMR does not affect TEE estimates for interspecific comparisons. Comparisons of more closely related groups such as humans and Neandertals, however, may benefit from consideration of this variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew W Froehle
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093-0532, USA.
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Leonard WR, Snodgrass JJ, Sorensen MV. METABOLIC ADAPTATION IN INDIGENOUS SIBERIAN POPULATIONS. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ANTHROPOLOGY 2005. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev.anthro.34.081804.120558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Previous research has suggested that arctic populations have elevated metabolic rates in response to their cold, marginal climate. Recent studies of indigenous Siberian groups have confirmed these earlier findings and have shed light on the mechanisms through which northern populations adapt to their environments. Indigenous Siberians show significant elevations in basal metabolic rate compared with reference values. Total energy expenditure is variable across Siberian groups and is correlated with levels of acculturation. Siberian populations appear to have adapted to cold stress through both short-term acclimatization and genetic adaptations, with thyroid hormones playing an important role in shaping metabolic responses. Elevated metabolic rates also have important consequences for health and may contribute to the low serum lipid levels observed in Siberian groups. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of metabolic adaptation and their implications for ongoing health changes among indigenous Siberians.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R. Leonard
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208;,
| | - J. Josh Snodgrass
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208;,
| | - Mark V. Sorensen
- Department of Anthropology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
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Snodgrass JJ, Leonard WR, Tarskaia LA, Alekseev VP, Krivoshapkin VG. Basal metabolic rate in the Yakut (Sakha) of Siberia. Am J Hum Biol 2005; 17:155-72. [PMID: 15736182 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.20106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Human indigenous circumpolar populations have elevated basal metabolic rates (BMRs) relative to predicted values; this metabolic elevation has been postulated to be a physiological adaptation to chronic and severe cold stress. The present study examines BMR in the Yakut, an indigenous high-latitude population from the Sakha Republic of Russia to determine (1) whether the Yakut show evidence of an elevated BMR, (2) if the Yakut display evidence of age-related changes in BMR, and (3) whether lifestyle differences influence BMR. BMR was measured during the late summer in 75 women and 50 men (ages 18-56 years) from the Siberian village of Berdygestiakh. Measured BMR (+/- SEM) of the entire sample was significantly elevated (+6.5%) compared to predictions based on body mass (6,623.7 +/- 94.9 vs. 6,218.2 +/- 84.7 kJ/day; P < 0.001). Additionally, measured BMR for the entire sample was significantly higher than predictions based on fat-free mass (+20.8%) and surface area (+8.9%). Males and females both showed significant elevations relative to all three standards. The elevated BMR of the Yakut does not appear to be attributable to extreme levels of protein, since the Yakut consume a mixed diet with a substantial proportion of carbohydrates. No significant age-related changes in BMR were found when controlled for body composition. No significant relationship was found between lifestyle variables and BMR, suggesting the possibility of a genetic or developmental mechanism. This study provides additional evidence of metabolic elevation in indigenous circumpolar groups and has important implications for estimating the nutritional requirements of these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Josh Snodgrass
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
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Leonard WR, Sorensen MV, Galloway VA, Spencer GJ, Mosher MJ, Osipova L, Spitsyn VA. Climatic influences on basal metabolic rates among circumpolar populations. Am J Hum Biol 2002; 14:609-20. [PMID: 12203815 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.10072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
This article examines evidence for elevations in basal metabolic rate (BMR) among indigenous Northern (circumpolar) populations and considers potential mechanisms and the adaptive basis for such elevations. Data on BMR among indigenous (n = 109 males; 122 females) and nonindigenous (n = 15 males; 22 females) circumpolar groups of North America and Siberia are compiled and compared to predicted BMRs based on three different references: body surface area (Consolazio et al., 1963), body mass (Schofield, 1985), and fat-free mass (Poehlman and Toth, 1995). Regardless of which reference is used, indigenous circumpolar groups show systematic and statistically significant elevations in BMR ranging from +7% to +19% above predicted values for indigenous men and from +3 to +17% for indigenous women. Nonindigenous males also show elevations in BMR, although not to the same extent as in indigenous men (deviations = +3 to +14%), whereas nonindigenous females show no clear evidence of elevated BMRs (deviations = -7 to +5%). This pattern of variation between indigenous and nonindigenous groups suggests that both functional and genetic factors play a role in metabolic adaptation to northern climes. Recent studies on the ecology and genetics of thyroid function offer insights into the mechanisms through which indigenous circumpolar populations may regulate metabolic rates. Studies of seasonal variation in thyroid hormone levels suggest that indigenous circumpolar populations may have a greater capacity to elevate BMR during severe cold than nonindigenous groups. Recent twin studies indicate a significant genetic component of thyroid responses to environmental stressors. Further research exploring the genetics of seasonal variation in thyroid function and BMR among circumpolar groups would advance understanding of the role that selection may have played in shaping metabolic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Leonard
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
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