Why Isolated Tribes Low Testosterone?

Isolated tribes, Tsiname, who live in the Amazon Forest, the center of Bolivia. Measurements by anthropologists from the University of California Santa Barbara and University of Washington found these tribes testosterone levels 33 percent lower than the population of the United States. Other findings do not show their testosterone levels decline with age. This contrasts with the population of the United States that testosterone levels decline in old age.

Anthropologist from the University of California Santa Barbara, Michael Gurven, said the testosterone levels of Tsimane an indication of how people survive before the period of industrialization.

"The pattern of human life at this time is an anomaly. Major change over the life of hunting and gathering to be taken thousands of years," he said.

Michael Gurven.
(Picture from: http://www.eurekalert.org/)

If testosterone levels are high, meaning the body will be an increased susceptibility to disease. Therefore, the tribes in order to keep the testosterone levels of the immune system work optimally.

"It makes sense if testosterone remained low in the middle of a neighborhood full of parasites and pathogens," said Ben Trumble, researchers from the University of Washington anthropology.

In the modern society, which is represented by the population of the United States, testosterone levels increased due to the influence of lifestyle changes. In the history of human evolution, the increase was seen as sharp spikes.

High testosterone does not threaten the life of modern man. Because they live in a relatively free environment, parasites, and pathogens. If an increase, the risk of infection is relatively low. In old age, testosterone levels go down to anticipate the threat of diseases associated with aging.

Tsimane men play soccer in central Bolivia. (Picture from: http://www.eurekalert.org/)

But there the similarity to modern human tribes are equally increased testosterone while competing. To test this, researchers set up a football tournament to eight teams of Tsimane people.

They found that testosterone levels rise tribes to 30 percent after the match. One hour after the game, testosterone levels are still 15 percent higher than normal condition. "Although testosterone increased health threat, this should be done in a short time in order to win the competition," says Gurven. *** [SCIGURU | ANTON WILLIAM | KORAN TEMPO 3840]

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