The role of nutrition and genetics as key determinants of the
positive height trend

J 2014

The role of nutrition and genetics as key determinants of the positive height trend

GRASGRUBER, Pavel, Jan CACEK, Tomáš KALINA and Martin SEBERA

Basic information

Original name

The role of nutrition and genetics as key determinants of the positive height trend

Authors

GRASGRUBER, Pavel (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Jan CACEK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Tomáš KALINA (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Martin SEBERA (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Economics and Human Biology, Elsevier Inc. 2014, 1570-677X

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

Sport and leisure time activities

Country of publisher

Netherlands

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 1.901

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14510/14:00076523

Organization unit

Faculty of Sports Studies

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2014.07.002

UT WoS

000347495900008

Keywords in English

Male height; Nutrition; Genetics; GDP per capita; Europe

Abstract

V originále

The aim of this study was to identify the most important variables determining current differences in physical stature in Europe and some of its overseas offshoots such as Australia, New Zealand and USA. We collected data on the height of young men from 45 countries and compared them with long-term averages of food consumption from the FAOSTAT database, various development indicators compiled by the World Bank and the CIA World Factbook, and frequencies of several genetic markers. Our analysis demonstrates that the most important factor explaining current differences in stature among nations of European origin is the level of nutrition, especially the ratio between the intake of high-quality proteins from milk products, pork meat and fish, and low-quality proteins from wheat. Possible genetic factors such as the distribution of Y haplogroup I-M170, combined frequencies of Y haplogroups I-M170 and R1b-U106, or the phenotypic distribution of lactose tolerance emerge as comparably important, but the available data are more limited. Moderately significant positive correlations were also found with GDP per capita, health expenditure and partly with the level of urbanization that influences male stature in Western Europe. In contrast, male height correlated inversely with children's mortality and social inequality (Gini index). These results could inspire social and nutritional guidelines that would lead to the optimization of physical growth in children and maximization of the genetic potential, both at the individual and national level.

Citovat

GRASGRUBER, Pavel, Jan CACEK, Tomáš KALINA and Martin SEBERA. The role of nutrition and genetics as key determinants of the positive height trend. Economics and Human Biology. Elsevier Inc., 2014, vol. 15, December 2014, p. 81-100. ISSN 1570-677X. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2014.07.002.

@article{1198398,
   author = {Grasgruber, Pavel and Cacek, Jan and Kalina, Tomáš and Sebera, Martin},
   article_number = {December 2014},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2014.07.002},
   keywords = {Male height; Nutrition; Genetics; GDP per capita; Europe},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {1570-677X},
   journal = {Economics and Human Biology},
   title = {The role of nutrition and genetics as key determinants of the positive height trend},
   url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1570677X14000665},
   volume = {15},
   year = {2014}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1198398
AU  - Grasgruber, Pavel - Cacek, Jan - Kalina, Tomáš - Sebera, Martin
PY  - 2014
TI  - The role of nutrition and genetics as key determinants of the positive height trend
JF  - Economics and Human Biology
VL  - 15
IS  - December 2014
SP  - 81-100
EP  - 81-100
PB  - Elsevier Inc.
SN  - 1570677X
KW  - Male height
KW  - Nutrition
KW  - Genetics
KW  - GDP per capita
KW  - Europe
UR  - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1570677X14000665
N2  - The aim of this study was to identify the most important variables determining current differences in physical stature in Europe and some of its overseas offshoots such as Australia, New Zealand and USA. We collected data on the height of young men from 45 countries and compared them with long-term averages of food consumption from the FAOSTAT database, various development indicators compiled by the World Bank and the CIA World Factbook, and frequencies of several genetic markers. Our analysis demonstrates that the most important factor explaining current differences in stature among nations of European origin is the level of nutrition, especially the ratio between the intake of high-quality proteins from milk products, pork meat and fish, and low-quality proteins from wheat. Possible genetic factors such as the distribution of Y haplogroup I-M170, combined frequencies of Y haplogroups I-M170 and R1b-U106, or the phenotypic distribution of lactose tolerance emerge as comparably important, but the available data are more limited. Moderately significant positive correlations were also found with GDP per capita, health expenditure and partly with the level of urbanization that influences male stature in Western Europe. In contrast, male height correlated inversely with children's mortality and social inequality (Gini index). These results could inspire social and nutritional guidelines that would lead to the optimization of physical growth in children and maximization of the genetic potential, both at the individual and national level.
ER  -

GRASGRUBER, Pavel, Jan CACEK, Tomáš KALINA and Martin SEBERA. The role of nutrition and genetics as key determinants of the positive height trend. \textit{Economics and Human Biology}. Elsevier Inc., 2014, vol.~15, December 2014, p.~81-100. ISSN~1570-677X. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2014.07.002.

Detailed Information on Publication Record