Inuit Study Adds Twist to Omega-3 Fatty Acids’ Health Story | Hacker News Reader

Inuit Study Adds Twist to Omega-3 Fatty Acids’ Health Story

nytimes.com

40 pointsdrsilberman16 comments

Summary: "A study published on Thursday in the journal Science reported that the ancestors of the Inuit evolved unique genetic adaptations for metabolizing omega-3s and other fatty acids. Those gene variants had drastic effects on Inuit’s bodies, reducing their heights and weights.

... the discovery raised questions about whether omega-3 fats really were protective for everyone, despite decades of health advice. “The same diet may have different effects on different people,” he said."

"The same diet may have different effects on different people"

This is a very key point. We're just beginning to scratch the surface on how genetics and diet interact.

The fact that most of the discussions I encounter on a daily basis never address this is maddening.

I blame it on our cultural ideals stating that everyone is equal. As Americans, we have severe reservations about claiming people are genetically different.

It's hard to study diet's effect on health even assuming the effects are the same for everybody. Either it's a population study with all sorts of uncontrolled variables and uncertain data, or it's a controlled experiment which only lasts for a short time. Adding genetic factors makes it even more complicated...though if it increases the effect size enough, maybe it'll help.

Differences in gut flora could be another factor.

That sounds racist. /s

Seriously though, this is a core part of dietary concerns, it's almost a certainty that a Russian is going to have a slightly different reaction to foods than a European, due to centuries of eating different foods. I think it's only recently we've really started to discover that evolution isn't just survival of the fittest, but a considerably more complex mechanism that has immediate impacts after very few generations to very slight stimuli. Not to mention stuff like gut flora, environment during pregnancy, etc.

As a Northern European I'm often amused by all the studies of allergenic properties of milk coming in from different parts of world.

Is there any kind of efficient way to just find out what foods are best for one individual (i.e. yourself)? Because the amount of contradicting studies related to food is quite unworkable...

There's basic genetic tests which can tell you if you can't metabolize a certain nutrient as well as others and things like that. They also probably change depending on your current lifestyle and stress levels, to add further complexity.

Other than that, trial and error.

Inuit have unique gene differences (obvious), those may give them an ability to metabolize fat better. However there is some evidence that Inuit that eat western diets have the same rate of heart disease as us and westerners who eat their diet have the same rate of heart disease as them? (from "Good Calories, Bad Calories" by Gary Taubes).

I think they are coming from an assumption (which is possibly incorrect) that eating fatty meats causes heart disease. So they are trying to solve a mystery but the entire foundation for their search is in question IMO.

It is interesting either way. Maybe if we keep eating high fructose corn syrup and refined grains, this obesity and heart disease epidemic will just cause selection for a few generations that will result in us as a population being able to live nicely eating all this shit we eat now.

The last paragraph is very wrong, or I don't remember high school biology. So please correct me if I'm wrong.

Humans aren't evolving in response to their environment: they change the environment to suit them.

And anyway, selection doesn't really work in a few generation, and definitely not if what you are trying to select out doesn't change how many kids you might have.

By the time you die from heart disease, you've probably had all the kids you were going to.

Our ability to change our environment is limited and was even more limited in the past.

• Look at infectious diseases killing those without inborne resistance and you see humans evolving just fine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sickle-cell_disease

• Also changing your environment, e.g. by starting to herd animals can jumpstart evolution https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactase_persistence

For those looking to experiment with a high-fat/low-carb diet, the Ketogenic Diet is what you're looking for.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketogenic_diet

Be warned though, the dietary requirements are very strict and it will push your limits.

Evidently this diet would be most effective for Inuit people, who long ago evolved a gene to more efficiently process Omega fatty acids...

I found the diet (or a diet close to it) was rough for about a month then very easy. Once the cravings for bread and sugar go away, it's fairly easy to stick to it from a purely willpower point of way. The problem I had after about a year was the social part. The conversions to family members on why I'm not eating grand's thanksgiving stuffing, office pizza parties, etc.

It has been the only one that works for me long term

I cannot but recommend the book "The queen of fats" for a fascinating history of the Omega-3 fats recommendations.

[1] http://www.amazon.com/The-Queen-Fats-Omega-3s-California/dp/...

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