Metabolic Syndrome

Question 1

Diseases of Modern Life

Answer 1

• Obesity, Diabetes, Heart disease, some cancers, alzheimers, gout
• Aerobic fitness in modern living is much lower than hunter-gatherers
• We are fatter according to tricep folds
• Diabetes rates are almost triple
• Cholesterol is also much higher

Question 2

Turfs vs. Huts

Question 3

ECG Characteristics

Answer 3

• Much higher characteristics of heart disease in modern societies compared to others

Question 4

Metabolic Syndrome

Answer 4

• Defined as 3 of the following: Central obesity, high BP, high triglycerides, low HDL cholestrol, Insulin resistance
• Higher levels of HDL associated with lower risk of HD

Question 5

Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome

Answer 5

• Prevalence is much lower for those with diabetes
• Fasting glucose is very high for people with d and no MS (because they have d)
• MS increases risk of HD but even more for people with diabetes

Question 6

Diet in Hunter-Gatherers

Answer 6

• Wide range, but about 64% comes from animal products
• We have a lot more saturated fats and triglycerides, they have more monounsaturateds
• We also have a lot more sugar

Question 7

Refined sugars and the brain

(rat experiment)

Answer 7

• Groups of rats given water, sucrose or high fructose diets and ran a maze
• Rats given water/control learned the training faster and remembered it for longer in adolescant rats
• But no apparant effect in adult rats