Our longevity is due to low energy consumption
The results of a new study conducted by Dr. Herman Pontzer from Hunter College in New York and his colleagues from other countries have shown that humans and other primates burn 50% fewer calories daily than other mammals with the same body size. Such a slow metabolism may explain the fact that primates mature more slowly and live longer than most mammals.
The authors studied the metabolic activity of representatives of 17 primate species living in zoos, nature reserves and in the wild. Using a non-invasive technique, they estimated the number of calories burned by primates over a 10-day period.
The results surprised scientists, as it turned out that humans, chimpanzees, baboons and other primates need half as many calories to maintain their vital functions as one would expect from mammals of the appropriate size. Moreover, primates living in captivity spend the same amount of energy as their relatives living in the wild. This indicates that physical activity can make a smaller contribution to the energy costs of the body than has been generally assumed until now.
The results of the study will help specialists understand the mechanisms of ensuring the health and longevity of the human body. Deciphering the mechanisms of the relationship between the rate of growth, reproductive age and aging with daily energy costs can shed light on the process of development and extinction of the body. And uncovering the unexpectedly complex relationship between physical activity and energy expenditure can help us better understand the mechanisms of obesity and other diseases that are based on metabolic disorders.
The authors have already started a study aimed at a more detailed study and comparison of energy consumption, activity and aging of humans and great apes. According to Pontzer, humans live longer than other primates and tend to have more adipose tissue. Understanding the differences between the metabolism of humans and their closest relatives will help us understand how the human body has evolved and how to keep it in good shape.
Article by Herman Pontzer et al. Primates: Now with Only Half the Calories! A New Study by Associate Professor Herman Pontzer is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on Hunter College materials:
Primates: Now with Only Half the Calories!
15.01.2014