A recently published article brings to light the relationship between the general increase in height in the world and the development of certain diseases . For the authors of the research, tall people have a lower risk of certain health problems, such as cardiovascular disorders and type 2 diabetes, but they are more prone to cancer.
The study was carried out by Professors Norbert Stefan and Hans-Ulrich Häring, from the Department of Internal Medicine of Tübingen (Germany) and the Research Institute of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases of the University of that city; Professor Matthias Schulze, from the German Institute for Human Nutrition in Potsdam; and Professor Frank Hu, from the Harvard School of Public Medicine and Boston Medical School (USA). These experts analyzed diet factors and other mechanisms that may explain this relationship.
Height is largely determined by genetics , but in recent decades it has steadily increased in children and adults around the world. Today, almost all children outnumber their parents in stature as adults. The greatest growth has been in the Netherlands : Dutch men today are 20 cm taller than they were 150 years ago. Interestingly, the per capita consumption of milk and dairy products in that country is the highest in the world. These observations led scientists to analyze the causes and medical effects of this increase in height.
Their study reveals that height has a major impact on mortality from some common diseases, regardless of body fat index and other factors. Previous research had already established that tall people have a lower cardiovascular and diabetes risk than short people but a greater risk of suffering from cancer. Specifically, according to Schulz, epidemiological data say that for every 6.5 cm of height, mortality from heart disease decreases by 6%, while death from cancer increases by 4%.
The authors believe that the increase in height is a sign of overeating with caloric and animal protein-rich food during different stages of growth. However, long-term growth hormones and factors such as insulin and IGF-1/2 are programmed in the womb. Among other consequences, the activation of these systems makes the body more sensitive to the action of insulin, which influences the metabolism of fats . In keeping with this idea, Professor Stefan says that “the data they have collected shows that tall people are more sensitive to insulin and have less fat content in the liver, which could explain why they are less prone to cardiovascular disorders and type 2 diabetes. ” This finding is consistent with other published studies suggesting that talls are better protected against lipid metabolism disorders. However, this activation of the IGF-1/2 system could be related to an increased risk of certain cancers, especially those of the breast, colon and skin (melanoma), since the growth cells are permanently activated, the researchers think. His conclusion is that growth factor and height in adulthood should be considered in the prevention of the aforementioned diseases.
Credit image: © Tim Tadder / Corbis
