Up to 3% of Greenland residents - or 1,600 people - have rare genetic mutation that makes sugary food as healthy as broccoli for them, study finds

Daily Mail ^ | 27 December 2021 | Mansur Shaheen

[Trillian]

Sugar may actually be healthy for some Greenland residents, a study finds.

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen found that up to three percent of Greenlanders may have a rare genetic mutation that allows their body to process sugar in a way that is healthy.

Since many people in Greenland come from gene pools that have consumed little sugar at all for centuries, their body has adjusted to consume sugar in a different way.

Those who have the mutation are less likely to become obese, or suffer from a wide range of health problems generally tied to being overweight.

'Adult Greenlanders with the genetic variation have lower BMI, weight, fat percentage, cholesterol levels and are generally significantly healthier,' said Anders Albrechtsen, a professor at the University of Copenhagen, in a statement.

'They have less belly fat and might find it easier to get a six pack. It is amazing and surprising that a genetic variation has such a profoundly beneficial effect.'

Researchers, who published their findings earlier this month in the journal Gastroenterology, gathered data from a pool of 6,551 adults from the arctic island, which has a total population of around 56,000.

They found that up to three percent of those in the sample have the rare mutation called surcase-isomoltase deficiency.

While a majority of people absorb the sugar they consume into their blood stream, these people's body instead sends it to the intestine, where it is then broken down and used for energy.

'Here, gut bacteria convert the sugar into a short-chain fatty acid called acetate, which in previous studies has been shown to reduce appetite, increase metabolism and boost the immune system,' Mette Andersen, first author of the study and an assistant professor at the school, said in a statement.

[lee martell]

How convenient. Marketing sweets to this population could produce some very interesting commercials and slogans.

[Adder]

Gotta get me some of them genes...

[EvilCapitalist]

I wish President Trump had bought Greenland from Denmark.

[Sacajaweau]

I was just thinking....Now we know why President Trump wanted Greenland.

Remember when Alaska was called Seward's Folly.

[ClearCase_guy]

Since many people in Greenland come from gene pools that have consumed little sugar at all for centuries, their body has adjusted to consume sugar in a different way.

Not my field, but doesn't this border on Lamarckism? Use or disuse within the body would increase or decrease function within the body over time? IO believe this would be in contravention to true natural selection.

[Secret Agent Man]

it seems to me its not just purely genetics

Its also their gut biome as well

[RandallFlagg]

And this is how you get Oompa Loompas....

[Dave Wright]

This mutation is a serious problem for human infants and does not provide any health benefit. The NIH describes it this way:

Congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency usually becomes apparent after an infant is weaned and starts to consume fruits, juices, and grains. After ingestion of sucrose or maltose, an affected child will typically experience stomach cramps, bloating, excess gas production, and diarrhea. These digestive problems can lead to failure to gain weight and grow at the expected rate (failure to thrive) and malnutrition. Most affected children are better able to tolerate sucrose and maltose as they get older.

[TigersEye]

Sounds like some more Fauci-Science to me.

[dila813]

No worries, I am sure they will evolve a proper gastro response.

[TexasGator]

“While a majority of people absorb the sugar they consume into their blood stream, these people’s body instead sends it to the intestine,”

Everybody sends the sugar to the intestine ...