There was recently a study done on an Amazonion tribe in Bolivia, called the Tsimane . The Tsimane suffer from a high incedences of infection and inflamation as well as different parasites. Traditionally, infection and inflamation have been fingered in all stages of arterial aging, atherogenesis and hypertension.
Here’s what the study found:
“Markers of infection and inflammation were much higher among Tsimane than among U.S. adults, whereas HDL was substantially lower. Regression models examine associations of ABI (Ankle Brachial Index) and BP with biomarkers of energy balance and metabolism and of inflammation and infection. Among Tsimane, obesity, blood lipids, and disease history were not significantly associated with ABI. Unlike the Tsimane case, higher cholesterol, C-reactive protein, leukocytes, cigarette smoking and systolic pressure among North Americans are all significantly associated with lower ABI.”
The scientists concluded that inflamation may not always increase the risk of Cardio-Vascular disease or arterial degeneration. It may be offset by an active life style, appropriate body mass, lean diet and a healthy metabolism. The good news: Lifestyle seems to be the most important factor in controlling the risk of cardiovascular disease.
