Variants in Neuropeptide Y Receptor 1 and 5 Are Associated with Nutrient-Specific Food Intake and Are Under Recent Selection in Europeans
Clara C. Elbers et al.
There is a large variation in caloric intake and macronutrient preference between individuals and between ethnic groups, and these food intake patterns show a strong heritability. The transition to new food sources during the agriculture revolution around 11,000 years ago probably created selective pressure and shaped the genome of modern humans. One major player in energy homeostasis is the appetite-stimulating hormone neuropeptide Y, in which the stimulatory capacity may be mediated by the neuropeptide Y receptors 1, 2 and 5 (NPY1R, NPY2R and NPY5R). We assess association between variants in the NPY1R, NPY2R and NPY5R genes and nutrient intake in a cross-sectional, single-center study of 400 men aged 40 to 80 years, and we examine whether genomic regions containing these genes show signatures of recent selection in 270 HapMap individuals (90 Africans, 90 Asians, and 90 Caucasians) and in 846 Dutch bloodbank controls. Our results show that derived alleles in NPY1R and NPY5R are associated with lower carbohydrate intake, mainly because of a lower consumption of mono- and disaccharides. We also show that carriers of these derived alleles, on average, consume meals with a lower glycemic index and glycemic load and have higher alcohol consumption. One of these variants shows the hallmark of recent selection in Europe. Our data suggest that lower carbohydrate intake, consuming meals with a low glycemic index and glycemic load, and/or higher alcohol consumption, gave a survival advantage in Europeans since the agricultural revolution. This advantage could lie in overall health benefits, because lower carbohydrate intake, consuming meals with a low GI and GL, and/or higher alcohol consumption, are known to be associated with a lower risk of chronic diseases.
Europeans being selected to prefer low carbohydrate diets
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"carbohydrate intake, consuming meals with a low glycemic index and glycemic load, and/or higher alcohol consumption" isn't consumption of this also correlated with being rich, which is correlated with survival and replication?
(rich europeans did not have sugar and lots of fruit until pretty late I think)
Eat (protein), drink, and be merry, as a superior survival strategy, who'd a thunk it?
n/a (or anyone),
Does body type factor into the equation (ex. - endo, ecto, meso, etc)?
"isn't consumption of this also correlated with being rich, which is correlated with survival and replication?"
The point of this paper (if it holds up) is that genetic variants that influence appetite / food choice have been subject to selection in Europeans since the advent of agriculture. Variation in diet between the rich and the poor may influence who survives/reproduces, but it shouldn't directly affect what they prefer to eat.
"Does body type factor into the equation (ex. - endo, ecto, meso, etc)?"
No idea. Sheldon believed body type and personality are linked, and there's evidence to support that idea. It's reasonable to guess that differences in appetite contribute to differences in body type.
"Variation in diet between the rich and the poor may influence who survives/reproduces, but it shouldn't directly affect what they prefer to eat."
yes, it might, I'm not sure, but I think europeans had very little access to (especially) sugar and fruits for most of the year. the carbs they could eat would have to be bread, more bread and porridge. I would prefer lots of beer and meat/fat, I think other people would to and I'm pretty sure I have read at some paleo-diet blog that they did. It is (as far as i know) only recently sugar became available and made a high carb diet would something thats actually tempting
poor editing
It's funny. I'm an Aryan by descent. Since I cut my diet to more protein and fat with minimal carbohydrates and moderate exercise I've lost >30 lbs and am in better health than I've been in years. Ditto my sister. This study's findings make this change easier to understand.
Aryans were really meant to eat meat, poultry, and dairy - when we overdo the carbs we become bloated, unhealthy and sickly-feeling.
Yes Mark, too many carbs are horrible for you - the major blood sugar spikes they cause is terrible for the body. The main reason people like carbs is because gorging on them make people easily fill full and satiated, except only that they'll feel hungry again in just a few hours after their blood sugar plunges again...then back to stuffing their faces with more carbs.
You are right that Northern Euros were/are meant to eat more meat - remember that they evolved mostly as herders and ranchers of beef/milking cattle.
Is it on this website I read about a major correlation between increased carb consumption (especially wheat) and the incidence of mental illness?
I'll also add: if you feel a strong craving for carbs, just eat something that is sweet yet that is also good for you. Beer often satisfies carb cravings, especially good dark ales. Even eating sugar-free dark chocolate (high in fat) is a lot better than gorging on bread, pasta, and other heavy carbs. Lentils are a good and healthy carb-rich food, much preferable to grain-based carbs. Oats (oatmeal) are OK carbs too because they are slow releasing in the body compared to other carbs, and they are very rich in fiber.
The most important thing wheat and other grains are useful for is in preventing famine during the very bad years for livestock and other natural sources of fat like fish.
Many White Americans and Europeans are 'fat starved' because they consume far too many of their calories via carbs like bread, pasta, pizza, etc. They stuff themselves with carbs to satisfy a gnawing feeling of hunger but are never fully satisfied - it's because their bodies are hungry for fats/lipids and cannot be satisfied by empty carbs. Instead they should be getting most (but certainly not ALL) of their calories from fat: meat, cheese, milk, butter, etc.
Overdoing carbs also rots the teeth quicker because they literally ferment in the oral cavity and cause cavities.
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