In a recent study, scientists have found out that the Paleolithic diet, also known as the "paleo" or "caveman" regimen, might be linked to heart disease.
In a study, Dr. Angela Genoni of Edith Cowan University facilitated a study where she and her colleagues tested the claims that the Paleo diet could promote a healthier digestive tract. The group studied 44 people that went under a Paleolithic diet and 47 people that preferred and stuck with the regimen or diet recommended by the Australian government.
The Paleolithic diet is inspired by The ancestors of human species that lived in the Paleolithic era about 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago. According to studies, the said human ancestors had a diet that revolves around fish, lean meats, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and seeds. It is also noted that these food sources do not require farming, unlike most modern food products such as dairy, grains, and legumes. The parameters of the study for qualifying participants should satisfy the condition set for the Paleo group, which is a limit of one serving for grains, dairy products, and legumes per day.
Under the Paleo group, the participants were put into more stringent categories namely "strict," and "pseudo." The Strict Paleo group is those who excluded dairy and grains from their daily diet. On the other hand, the Pseudo-Paleo group has a lower than average level of resistant starch in their diet. Other information collected by the authors from the participants includes gender, age, and body fat percentage, together with blood samples and stool samples. The purpose of the latter two items is for the researchers to examine what makes up the gut bacteria of a given participant.
The results of the study revealed that all 44 of the Paleo participants exhibited higher levels of the bacteria Hunagtella, which is known to produce trimethylamine-n-oxide (TMAO). The said bacteria is a biomarker linked with heart disease.
In a study published in 2017, it was revealed that people having high levels of TMAO had over 60% increased risk of either having a major cardiovascular event or dying.
It was also revealed in the study that the strict Paleo group had higher levels of TMAO in their blood as compared to the control group. However, lower levels of TMAO were observed for those who consume grains.
The study is important as it has been revealed that one in four deaths caused by heart disease each year might be credited to the Paleolithic diet.
