Hiroaki Arima1,2, Masayuki Nakano3, Sweta Koirala4, Hiromu Ito1, Basu Dev Pandey5,6, Kishor Pandey5,7, Takayuki Wada1,8, Taro Yamamoto9,10,11. 1. Department of International Health and Medical Anthropology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan. 2. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan. 3. Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kochi Gakuen University, Kochi, Japan. 4. Nepal Development Society, Kathmandu, Nepal. 5. Everest International Clinic and Research Center, Kathmandu, Nepal. 6. Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. 7. Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Lalitpur, Nepal. 8. Graduate School of Human Life Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan. 9. Department of International Health and Medical Anthropology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan. taro.daichi.yamamoto@gmail.com. 10. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan. taro.daichi.yamamoto@gmail.com. 11. Leading Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan. taro.daichi.yamamoto@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Tibetan highlanders have adapted to hypoxic environments through the development of unique mechanisms that suppress an increase in hemoglobin (Hb) concentration even in high-altitude areas. Hb concentrations generally decrease with increasing age. However, in the highlands, chronic altitude sickness is known to occur in the elderly population. To investigate how aging in a hypoxic environment affects Hb levels in Tibetan highlanders, we focused on the Mustang people, who live above 3500 m. We tried to clarify the pure relationship between aging and Hb levels in a hypoxic environment. RESULTS: We found that the Hb concentration increased with increasing age in females but not in males. Multivariate analysis showed that age, pulse pressure, the poverty index, and vascular diameter were strongly correlated with the Hb concentration. CONCLUSIONS: We found unique Hb dynamics among female Tibetan highlanders. As seen in these Hb dynamics, there may be sex-based differences in the adaptive mechanism in Tibetan highlanders.
BACKGROUND: Tibetan highlanders have adapted to hypoxic environments through the development of unique mechanisms that suppress an increase in hemoglobin (Hb) concentration even in high-altitude areas. Hb concentrations generally decrease with increasing age. However, in the highlands, chronic altitude sickness is known to occur in the elderly population. To investigate how aging in a hypoxic environment affects Hb levels in Tibetan highlanders, we focused on the Mustang people, who live above 3500 m. We tried to clarify the pure relationship between aging and Hb levels in a hypoxic environment. RESULTS: We found that the Hb concentration increased with increasing age in females but not in males. Multivariate analysis showed that age, pulse pressure, the poverty index, and vascular diameter were strongly correlated with the Hb concentration. CONCLUSIONS: We found unique Hb dynamics among female Tibetan highlanders. As seen in these Hb dynamics, there may be sex-based differences in the adaptive mechanism in Tibetan highlanders.
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