A recently published article brings to light the relationship between the general increase in stature in the world with the development of certain diseases.
For research authors, high people have less risk of suffering certain health problems, such as cardiovascular disorders and type 2 diabetes, but are more prone to cancer.
The study has been carried out by professors Norbert Stefan and Hans-Ulrich Häring, of the Department of Internal Medicine of Tubinga (Germany) and the Diabetes Research Institute and Metabolic Diseases of the University of that city;Professor Matthias Schulze, from the German Human Nutrition Institute of Potsdam;and Professor Frank Hu, from the Harvard Public Medicine School and the Boston Medical School (USA).These experts analyzed the factors of the diet and other mechanisms that can explain this relationship.
Height is largely determined by genetics, but in recent decades it has increased considerably in children and adults around the world constantly.
Today, almost all children overcome parents in stature when they reach adults.The greatest growth has occurred in the Netherlands: current Dutch men are 20 cm higher than 150 years ago.Interestingly, the per capita consumption of milk and dairy products in that country is the highest in the world.These observations led scientists to analyze the causes and medical effects of this stature increase.
His study reveals that height has an important impact on mortality due to some common diseases, regardless of body fat index and other factors.Preceding investigations had already established that the highs have less cardiovascular and diabetes risk than short but greater danger of cancer.Specifically, according to Schulz, epidemiological data says that for every 6.5 cm of height lowers mortality from heart disease by 6 %, while death due to cancer increases by 4 %.
The authors believe that the increase in stature is a sign of supercharging with caloric food and rich in animal proteins during different stages of growth.
However, already in the maternal uterus, long-term growth factors and hormones such as insulin and IGF-1/2 are scheduled.Among other consequences, the activation of these systems returns to the body more sensitive to the action of insulin, which influences the metabolism of fats.
According to that idea, Professor Stefan states that "the data they have collected shows that high people are more sensitive to insulin and have less fatty content in the liver, which could explain why they are less likely to cardiovascular disordersand type 2 diabetes ".This finding coincides with other published studies that suggested that the highs are better protected against the disorders of lipid metabolism.
However, this activation of the IGF-1/2 system could be related to a higher risk of suffering certain cancers, especially those of chest, colon and skin (melanoma), since growth cells are permanently activated, researchers think.Its conclusion is that the growth factor and height in adulthood in the prevention of the mentioned diseases should be considered.