Oetzi's cardiovascular condition

Angela

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So much for eating a lot of meats makes you heart healthy, or are ancestors were so much healthier than we are. :) Genetics trumps everything. Poor Oetzi.

https://www.archaeology.org/news/6653-180530-otzi-artery-calcifications

"BOLZANO, ITALY—Scientists have examined a full-body computed tomography scan of Ötzi the Iceman for evidence of his heart health, according to a report in Live Science. Ötzi is the name given to the man whose naturally mummified, 5,300-year-old remains were discovered frozen in the Alps by hikers in 1991. Previous studies have determined that Ötzi may have suffered from bad teeth and knees, propensity to ulcers, and perhaps even Lyme disease, before he likely died around the age of 46 from a blow to the head and an arrow wound in his shoulder. The new study has revealed three calcifications in the region of his heart. Scientists say these hardened plaques put him at an increased risk of a heart attack. He also had calcifications around his carotid artery, and in the arteries at the base of his skull, which could have increased his risk of stroke. An earlier study had found that Ötzi carried a genetic predisposition for atherosclerosis, or a narrowing of the arteries from fatty deposits. Patrizia Pernter, a radiologist at the Central Hospital in Bozen-Bolzano and a member of the research team, said this was probably the most important factor in Ötzi’s heart disease, since he was fit and didn’t smoke tobacco."

The Science article is better. One doctor says he should have eaten fewer fatty meats and more grains and leafy vegetables, i.e. a "Mediterranean diet". So much for Atkins. :)

https://www.livescience.com/62689-otzi-iceman-mummy-heart-disease.html
 
"...and didn't smoke tobacco...."
 
The New England Journal of Medicine replicated a previous study that showed that carnetine (red meat protein) is what causes clogged arteries. The mechanism is the byproduct of the gut bacteria that eats carnetine. This byproduct directly causes artery buildup. This is important because for decades the nutritional science group has correlated heart disease with fat or red meat. They thought this was due to the fat content. While it is true that red meat is often fatty, even lean red meats such as venison have the same effect. The fat is not the problem, even though it seems like it would make intuitive sense that fat and grease would clog an artery.

What evidence do they have of Oetzi eating fatty meat? He had ibex in his stomach and seemed to be equipped to hunt wild game.
 
The New England Journal of Medicine replicated a previous study that showed that carnetine (red meat protein) is what causes clogged arteries. The mechanism is the byproduct of the gut bacteria that eats carnetine. This byproduct directly causes artery buildup. This is important because for decades the nutritional science group has correlated heart disease with fat or red meat. They thought this was due to the fat content. While it is true that red meat is often fatty, even lean red meats such as venison have the same effect. The fat is not the problem, even though it seems like it would make intuitive sense that fat and grease would clog an artery.

What evidence do they have of Oetzi eating fatty meat? He had ibex in his stomach and seemed to be equipped to hunt wild game.

According to the article, he had "fatty" ibex in his stomach. Now, I don't know if ibex is "fatty", or he ate mostly the fatty bits.

This is an article based on an analysis of his stomach contents. He had eaten both red deer and wild goat.
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/06/110623-iceman-mummy-otzi-meal-goat-stomach-science/

This is nutrition information for wild goat, if that helps.
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/lamb-veal-and-game-products/4638/2


The clothing materials of the things he wore indicate his group must have eaten both domesticated and wild meats.

"Clothes worn by Otzi the Iceman 5,300 years ago include (clockwise from top left): hay-stuffed shoes, goat- and sheepskin coat, goatskin leggings, bear fur hat, grass matting and sheepskin loincloth."
https://news.nationalgeographic.com...s-mummy-clothing-dna-leather-fur-archaeology/

I do know bear is extremely high in fat.

The diet of Oetzi's group:
https://www.einkorn.com/otzi-the-icemans-last-meal-included-einkorn-wheat-bread/
 
food plays an important role for cardiovascular condition, but also genes do.

I don't have any bad cholesterol, the problem is I don't have any good cholesterol either.
I'm sure it's not because of my diet.
 
Yes, I think it's a combination of both. Some people can do absolutely everything right and develop certain diseases, and others can do everything wrong and live till 90. Thing is, most people don't know in which category they fall, so a good diet and staying fit is important.

My mother, who was extremely disciplined about food, far more disciplined than I, lean as a greyhound, and never sat still, developed high blood pressure, and nothing, not removing salt, nothing worked except a water pill and blood pressure medication. I developed it at the same exact age that she had. Like her, though, and with far more leeway in my diet, my bad cholesterol is extremely low and my good cholesterol very high. I joke to people it's olive oil, but there's more to it than that. :)

Speaking of diets, other than staying away from really high fat and low in nutrition fast foods and limiting desserts because they're empty calories, I don't really believe in exclusionary diets. Everything in moderation, limit portion size, and stay active. Then again, I don't like preaching about diets. That's just what worked for me.
 

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