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Intima‐media thickness in Ladakh highlanders
Author(s) -
Watson Rebecca R,
Greene E R,
Prisman E,
Slessarev M,
Ito S,
Norboo T,
Stobdan T,
Diskit D,
Norboo A,
Kunzang M,
Fisher J A,
Appenzeller O
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.a947-a
Subject(s) - medicine , subclinical infection , intima media thickness , cohort , common carotid artery , cardiology , population , carotid arteries , environmental health
In animal models and humans, chronic intermittent hypoxia increases subclinical atherosclerosis. High animal fat diets and hypertension are also risk factors for arterial disease. Noninvasive ultrasound permits measurements of intima‐media thickness (IMT) in the human carotid artery. This measure is a surrogate for subclinical atherosclerosis. We measured common carotid artery IMT in 96 (20 female) geographically, perhaps genetically, isolated native highlanders from Korzok, India (4550 m). This population has a high animal fat consumption and a high prevalence of hypertension. They also have normal BMIs and high daily aerobic work loads. Data are mean (SD):The linear regression equation relating age to IMT was IMT = 0.006(Age) + 0.24 (r=0.74, p<0.05). Age matched mean IMT values of controls from industrialized countries in normobaria ranged from 0.60– 1.10 mm with slopes of 0.009–0.016 and intercepts from 0.12–0.19. This field study suggests that compared to industrialized, normobaric populations, IMT is attenuated in Ladakh highlanders. This reduction occurs in spite of risk factors which increase IMT at sea level, and may be related to their aerobic load and genetics. Our findings are consistent with the low prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in this cohort. Funded by NMHEMC Research Foundation.