ORCID
- Martin, Daniel: 0000-0001-6220-8235
Abstract
Significance A relative fall in tissue oxygen levels (hypoxia) is a common feature of many human diseases, including heart failure, lung diseases, anemia, and many cancers, and can compromise normal cellular function. Hypoxia also occurs in healthy humans at high altitude due to low barometric pressures. Human populations resident at high altitude in the Himalayas have evolved mechanisms that allow them to survive and perform, including adaptations that preserve oxygen delivery to the tissues. Here, we studied one such population, the Sherpas, and found metabolic adaptations, underpinned by genetic differences, that allow their tissues to use oxygen more efficiently, thereby conserving muscle energy levels at high altitude, and possibly contributing to the superior performance of elite climbing Sherpas at extreme altitudes.
DOI
10.1073/ps.1700527114
Publication Date
2017-05-22
Publication Title
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Volume
114
Issue
24
First Page
6382
Last Page
6387
ISSN
0027-8424
Organisational Unit
Peninsula Medical School
Recommended Citation
Horscroft, J. A., Kotwica, A., Laner, V., West, J., Hennis, P., Levett, D., Howard, D., Fernandez, B., Burgess, S., Ament, Z., Gilbert-Kawai, E., Vercueil, A., Landis, B., Mitchell, K., Mythen, M., Branco, C., Johnson, R., Feelisch, M., Montgomery, H., Griffin, J., Grocott, M., Gnaiger, E., Martin, D., & Murray, A. (2017) 'Metabolic basis to Sherpa altitude adaptation', Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114(24), pp. 6382-6387. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1073/ps.1700527114
