Year: 2019
Type: article
Abstract: Human beings have showed evolution for long years associated with the changes in metabolic programs [1].In favorable environmental situation, growth and reproduction programs had been continued, which were anabolic metabolism.Under unfavorable environmental conditions, maintenance programs were engaged, which include dormancy and defense.Dormancy is induced by nutrient shortage relying on energy preserving catabolic metabolism.Defense is induced by infections and other aggressive factors associated with supporting anabolic metabolism [1].From nutritional point of view, there is the comparative perspective for human evolution between i) fasting and ii) overeating.The former had been observed in human being for approximately 4 million to 7 million years [2].Food deprivation has brought elevated ketone bodies and intensified cognition, leading to synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis and neuroprotection.This mechanism shows optimal cognitive function and resistance to injury and disease.On the other hand, the latter has been recently observed such as non-communicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide.Food abundance has brought elevated insulin resistance and cognitive complacency, leading to synaptic dysfunction, impaired neurogenesis and neuronal degeneration.This mechanism shows suboptimal cognition and vulnerability to injury and disease [2].Primitive men had changed into present human race.They had struggled with hunger for million years.What did they usually live on?They sometimes got hunting animals and ate muscle, visceral organ and bone marrow.These foods consist of protein and fat without carbohydrate.Their blood glucose was always subnormal, and health problem was rather hypoglycemia.That is why human body has only insulin that decreases blood glucose.
Author: Hiroshi Bando
Language: English
Topic: Diet and metabolism studies
Subfield: Physiology (medical)
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3033175393