Are You What You Eat?
There has always been the saying "You are what you eat." Well, scientists from Cornell University have found persuading evidence that a vegetarian diet has lead to a mutation. If vegetarians stray from a balanced omega-6 to omega-3 diet, it may make them more susceptible to inflammation, and by association, have an increased risk of heart disease and colon cancer.
When comparing a mainly vegetarian country, like India, to a more traditional meat-eating country, like the US, it lead to the discovery that provided the first real evidence that traces a higher frequency of a particular mutation to a primarily vegetarian diet. The research team was able to use the 1000 Genomes Project, which provided evolutionary evidence that a vegetarian diet, over many generations, could have driven the higher frequency of a mutation in the Indian population.
The mutation, found in the FADS2 gene, is an insertion or deletion of a sequence of DNA that regulates the expression of two genes, the FADS1 and FADS2. The key to making long chain polyunsaturated fats are these genes. Arachidonic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid, is a key target of the pharmaceutical industry because it's a culprit for those at risk of hear disease and colon cancer. When considering medicine and nutrition for treating individuals, scientists look at whether they carry 0, 1 or 2 copies of the insertion, as well as their influence on fatty acid metabolites.
The insertion mutation is favored in populations of primarily vegetarian diets and may also effect on populations that have limited access to fatty fish. The deletion mutation has adaptive to populations that follow a marine diet.
Perhaps, people are right. Maybe, we are what we eat.
Sources:
When comparing a mainly vegetarian country, like India, to a more traditional meat-eating country, like the US, it lead to the discovery that provided the first real evidence that traces a higher frequency of a particular mutation to a primarily vegetarian diet. The research team was able to use the 1000 Genomes Project, which provided evolutionary evidence that a vegetarian diet, over many generations, could have driven the higher frequency of a mutation in the Indian population.
The mutation, found in the FADS2 gene, is an insertion or deletion of a sequence of DNA that regulates the expression of two genes, the FADS1 and FADS2. The key to making long chain polyunsaturated fats are these genes. Arachidonic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid, is a key target of the pharmaceutical industry because it's a culprit for those at risk of hear disease and colon cancer. When considering medicine and nutrition for treating individuals, scientists look at whether they carry 0, 1 or 2 copies of the insertion, as well as their influence on fatty acid metabolites.
The insertion mutation is favored in populations of primarily vegetarian diets and may also effect on populations that have limited access to fatty fish. The deletion mutation has adaptive to populations that follow a marine diet.
Perhaps, people are right. Maybe, we are what we eat.
Sources:
Kothapalli, K. S., Ye, K., Gadgil, M.
S., Carlson, S. E., O’Brien, K. O., Zhang, J. Y., ... & Joshi, K. S.
(2016). Positive selection on a regulatory insertion–deletion
polymorphism in FADS2 influences apparent endogenous synthesis of
arachidonic acid. Molecular biology and evolution, 33(7), 1726-1739.
This also somewhat starts the discussion of whether processed foods like we eat today are starting to have an effect on the next few generations. It would also be interesting to see if in the future there are modified vegetables with omega-6 and omega-3 to supplement the absence of these nutrients.
ReplyDeleteSo it seems what we don't eat is what is causing the issue. The mainly vegetarian diet caused more issues over time vs the meat eating one of the US. It seems that the focus of the issue is from a lack of fish which have the omegas you mentioned. I think it is a huge possibility that people will find ways to mix essential minerals and vitamins into foods which do not usually have them.
DeleteThis article got me thinking of the fish pill that are popular for these vitamins that people already take. It seems even if it doesn't have a huge effect now, our children's children will be affected by our choices.
Also, the United States is one of the countries with the highest consumption of vitamin and mineral supplements (pills). At any pharmacy or even at Sam's club, I can buy a bottle of vitamins that contains omega-3, 6, and 9 all in one pill. It seems if someone decides to eat vegan they simply need to do research to understand what vitamins and minerals they might be lacking and take a supplement. Of course, in my opinion, it is always best to try to consume all of the vitamins and minerals you need in a healthy, balanced diet rather than supplementing with pills.
DeleteIt is scary to think "we are what we eat" Americans consume foods that are "terrible" and its scary to see all of the research being done to show the effects it has on the body. I find it interesting that the mutation that was found based on a vegetarian diet. Good and interesting post!
ReplyDeleteThis makes me pretty nervous considering the fact that I eat garbage. Its scary to think that it is having more of an effect on me then I thought. I mean, I always knew it would have a negative effect but wow. Just imagine what all these process foods are doing to our bodies...
ReplyDeleteWhile they are finding genetic mutations in genes linked with heart disease from a vegan diet, on the flip side, I could eat a heavy meat diet (with red meat a few times a week) and also put myself at risk for heart disease. Not to mention the western lifestyle of sitting on the couch and watching tv also contributes largely to the prevalence of heart disease. I think the key to overcoming a lot of the health issues, especially heart disease, in America is eating a healthy, balanced diet and getting at least 30 minutes cardiovascular exercise a few days a week.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I do find it intriguing the further research into genetic factors on heart disease such as the mutations introduced from a vegan diet as discussed in your post. Great post!