(05-12-11) Estimated macronutrient and fatty acid intakes from an East African Paleolithic diet

Remko S. Kuipers1*, Martine F. Luxwolda1, D. A. Janneke Dijck-Brouwer1, S. Boyd Eaton2,
Michael A. Crawford3, Loren Cordain4 and Frits A. J. Muskiet1
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), University of Groningen,
PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands
2Departments of Anthropology and Radiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
3Department of Bio-molecular Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK
4Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
(Received 3 February 2010 ? Revised 17 May 2010 ? Accepted 18 May 2010)

Our genome adapts slowly to changing conditions of existence. Many diseases of civilisation result from mismatches between our Paleolithic
genome and the rapidly changing environment, including our diet. The objective of the present study was to reconstruct multiple Paleolithic
diets to estimate the ranges of nutrient intakes upon which humanity evolved. A database of, predominantly East African, plant and animal
foods (meat/fish) was used to model multiple Paleolithic diets, using two pathophysiological constraints (i.e. protein ,35 energy % (en%) and
linoleic acid (LA) .1?0 en%), at known hunter?gatherer plant/animal food intake ratios (range 70/30?30/70 en%/en%). We investigated selective
and non-selective savannah, savannah/aquatic and aquatic hunter?gatherer/scavenger foraging strategies. We found (range of medians in en%)
intakes of moderate-to-high protein (25?29), moderate-to-high fat (30?39) and moderate carbohydrates (39?40). The fatty acid composition
was SFA (11?4?12?0), MUFA (5?6?18?5) and PUFA (8?6?15?2). The latter was high in a-linolenic acid (ALA) (3?7?4?7 en%), low in
LA (2?3?3?6 en%), and high in long-chain PUFA (LCP; 4?75?25?8 g/d), LCP n-3 (2?26?17?0 g/d), LCP n-6 (2?54?8?84 g/d), ALA/LA ratio
(1?12?1?64 g/g) and LCP n-3/LCP n-6 ratio (0?84?1?92 g/g). Consistent with the wide range of employed variables, nutrient intakes showed
wide ranges. We conclude that compared with Western diets, Paleolithic diets contained consistently higher protein and LCP, and lower LA.
These are likely to contribute to the known beneficial effects of Paleolithic-like diets, e.g. through increased satiety/satiation. Disparities between
Paleolithic, contemporary and recommended intakes might be important factors underlying the aetiology of common Western diseases. Data on
Paleolithic diets and lifestyle, rather than the investigation of single nutrients, might be useful for the rational design of clinical trials.

Source: British Journal of Nutrition (2010), page 1 of 22 doi:10.1017/S0007114510002679
q The Authors 2010

News

---

In evidenza

"L'informazione presente nel sito serve a migliorare, e non a sostituire, il rapporto medico-paziente."

Per coloro che hanno problemi di salute si consiglia di consultare sempre il proprio medico curante.