AJCN Yamada Bee Farm Grant for Honeybee Research
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Purchase Article
Right arrow View Shopping Cart
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Cordain, L.
Right arrow Articles by Brand-Miller, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Cordain, L.
Right arrow Articles by Brand-Miller, J.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Cordain, L.
Right arrow Articles by Brand-Miller, J.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 81, No. 2, 341-354, February 2005
© 2005 American Society for Clinical Nutrition

COMMENTARY

Origins and evolution of the Western diet: health implications for the 21st century1,2

Loren Cordain, S Boyd Eaton, Anthony Sebastian, Neil Mann, Staffan Lindeberg, Bruce A Watkins, James H O’Keefe and Janette Brand-Miller

1 From the Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins (LC); the Departments of Radiology and Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta (SBE); the Department of Medicine and UCSF/Moffitt General Clinical Research Center, University of California, San Francisco (AS); the Department of Food Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia (NM); the Department of Medicine, Lund University, Sweden (SL); the Department of Food Science, Lipid Chemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (BAW); the Mid America Heart Institute, Cardiovascular Consultants, Kansas City, MO (JHO); and the Human Nutrition Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Sydney, Australia (JB-M)

There is growing awareness that the profound changes in the environment (eg, in diet and other lifestyle conditions) that began with the introduction of agriculture and animal husbandry {approx}10000 y ago occurred too recently on an evolutionary time scale for the human genome to adjust. In conjunction with this discordance between our ancient, genetically determined biology and the nutritional, cultural, and activity patterns of contemporary Western populations, many of the so-called diseases of civilization have emerged. In particular, food staples and food-processing procedures introduced during the Neolithic and Industrial Periods have fundamentally altered 7 crucial nutritional characteristics of ancestral hominin diets: 1) glycemic load, 2) fatty acid composition, 3) macronutrient composition, 4) micronutrient density, 5) acid-base balance, 6) sodium-potassium ratio, and 7) fiber content. The evolutionary collision of our ancient genome with the nutritional qualities of recently introduced foods may underlie many of the chronic diseases of Western civilization.

Key Words: Westernized diets • chronic disease • processed foods • genetic discordance • hunter-gatherers • human evolution




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
Y. A Carpentier, M. Hacquebard, L. Portois, I. E Dupont, R. J Deckelbaum, and W. J Malaisse
Rapid cellular enrichment of eicosapentaenoate after a single intravenous injection of a novel medium-chain triacylglycerol:fish-oil emulsion in humans
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, April 1, 2010; 91(4): 875 - 882.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Mol. Endocrinol.Home page
D. M. Lonard, R. Kumar, and B. W. O'Malley
Minireview: The SRC Family of Coactivators: An Entree to Understanding a Subset of Polygenic Diseases?
Mol. Endocrinol., February 1, 2010; 24(2): 279 - 285.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
A. Strohle, A. Hahn, and A. Sebastian
Estimation of the diet-dependent net acid load in 229 worldwide historically studied hunter-gatherer societies
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, February 1, 2010; 91(2): 406 - 412.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
G. S. Omenn
Evolution in Health and Medicine Sackler Colloquium: Evolution and public health
PNAS, January 26, 2010; 107(suppl_1): 1702 - 1709.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum Reprod UpdateHome page
I. Cetin, C. Berti, and S. Calabrese
Role of micronutrients in the periconceptional period
Hum. Reprod. Update, January 1, 2010; 16(1): 80 - 95.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 AJPHHome page
W. Maziak and K. D. Ward
From Health as a Rational Choice to Health as an Affordable Choice
Am J Public Health, December 1, 2009; 99(12): 2134 - 2139.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Nutr Clin PractHome page
M. V. Potenza and J. I. Mechanick
The Metabolic Syndrome: Definition, Global Impact, and Pathophysiology
Nutr Clin Pract, October 1, 2009; 24(5): 560 - 577.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 AMERICAN JOURNAL OF LIFESTYLE MEDICINEHome page
K. K. Pettee Gabriel and B. E. Ainsworth
Building Healthy Lifestyles Conference: Modifying Lifestyles to Enhance Physical Activity and Diet and Reduce Cardiovascular Disease
American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, July 1, 2009; 3(1_suppl): 6S - 10S.
[PDF]

Home page
 Int J EpidemiolHome page
W. Maziak
The triumph of the null hypothesis: epidemiology in an age of change
Int. J. Epidemiol., April 1, 2009; 38(2): 393 - 402.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
K. Chechi, J. J. McGuire, and S. K. Cheema
Developmental programming of lipid metabolism and aortic vascular function in C57BL/6 mice: a novel study suggesting an involvement of LDL-receptor
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, April 1, 2009; 296(4): R1029 - R1040.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Pathol.Home page
B. D. Lamon and D. P. Hajjar
Inflammation at the Molecular Interface of Atherogenesis: An Anthropological Journey
Am. J. Pathol., November 1, 2008; 173(5): 1253 - 1264.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch. Dis. Child.Home page
M Rodriguez-Moran and F Guerrero-Romero
Serum magnesium and C-reactive protein levels
Arch. Dis. Child., August 1, 2008; 93(8): 676 - 680.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Plant Physiol.Home page
H. G. Damude and A. J. Kinney
Enhancing Plant Seed Oils for Human Nutrition
Plant Physiology, July 1, 2008; 147(3): 962 - 968.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Nutr Clin PractHome page
A. Wald and D. Rakel
Behavioral and Complementary Approaches for the Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Nutr Clin Pract, June 1, 2008; 23(3): 284 - 292.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
E. F. du Toit, W. Smith, C. Muller, H. Strijdom, B. Stouthammer, A. J. Woodiwiss, G. R. Norton, and A. Lochner
Myocardial susceptibility to ischemic-reperfusion injury in a prediabetic model of dietary-induced obesity
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, May 1, 2008; 294(5): H2336 - H2343.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Biol. Chem.Home page
L. Madsen, L. M. Pedersen, B. Liaset, T. Ma, R. K. Petersen, S. van den Berg, J. Pan, K. Muller-Decker, E. D. Dulsner, R. Kleemann, et al.
cAMP-dependent Signaling Regulates the Adipogenic Effect of n-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids
J. Biol. Chem., March 14, 2008; 283(11): 7196 - 7205.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
S. Soenen and M. S Westerterp-Plantenga
No differences in satiety or energy intake after high-fructose corn syrup, sucrose, or milk preloads
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, December 1, 2007; 86(6): 1586 - 1594.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch. Dis. Child.Home page
P. D Gluckman
Evolving a definition of disease
Arch. Dis. Child., December 1, 2007; 92(12): 1053 - 1054.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
K. Murakami, S. Sasaki, Y. Takahashi, K. Uenishi, M. Yamasaki, H. Hayabuchi, T. Goda, J. Oka, K. Baba, K. Ohki, et al.
Hardness (difficulty of chewing) of the habitual diet in relation to body mass index and waist circumference in free-living Japanese women aged 18-22 y
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, July 1, 2007; 86(1): 206 - 213.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
V. S Malik and F. B Hu
Dietary prevention of atherosclerosis: go with whole grains
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, June 1, 2007; 85(6): 1444 - 1445.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
N. Binkley, R. Novotny, D. Krueger, T. Kawahara, Y. G. Daida, G. Lensmeyer, B. W. Hollis, and M. K. Drezner
Low Vitamin D Status despite Abundant Sun Exposure
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2007; 92(6): 2130 - 2135.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Psychosom. Med.Home page
J. K. Kiecolt-Glaser, M. A. Belury, K. Porter, D. Q. Beversdorf, S. Lemeshow, and R. Glaser
Depressive Symptoms, omega-6:omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Inflammation in Older Adults
Psychosom Med, April 1, 2007; 69(3): 217 - 224.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 IOVSHome page
C. T. O. Nguyen, B. V. Bui, A. J. Sinclair, and A. J. Vingrys
Dietary Omega 3 Fatty Acids Decrease Intraocular Pressure with Age by Increasing Aqueous Outflow
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., February 1, 2007; 48(2): 756 - 762.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Clin. Cancer Res.Home page
M. Bergman Jungestrom, L. U. Thompson, and C. Dabrosin
Flaxseed and Its Lignans Inhibit Estradiol-Induced Growth, Angiogenesis, and Secretion of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Human Breast Cancer Xenografts In vivo
Clin. Cancer Res., February 1, 2007; 13(3): 1061 - 1067.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JNMHome page
B. Lentle and D. Worsley
Osteoporosis Redux
J. Nucl. Med., December 1, 2006; 47(12): 1945 - 1959.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Am. Soc. Nephrol.Home page
S. Jehle, A. Zanetti, J. Muser, H. N. Hulter, and R. Krapf
Partial Neutralization of the Acidogenic Western Diet with Potassium Citrate Increases Bone Mass in Postmenopausal Women with Osteopenia
J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., November 1, 2006; 17(11): 3213 - 3222.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Intern MedHome page
S. Liu
Lowering dietary glycemic load for weight control and cardiovascular health: a matter of quality.
Arch Intern Med, July 24, 2006; 166(14): 1438 - 1439.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Intern MedHome page
R. Baschetti
Definition of low-fat diets.
Arch Intern Med, July 10, 2006; 166(13): 1419 - 1420.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Am. Soc. Nephrol.Home page
M. Daudon, O. Traxer, P. Conort, B. Lacour, and P. Jungers
Type 2 Diabetes Increases the Risk for Uric Acid Stones
J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., July 1, 2006; 17(7): 2026 - 2033.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
J. R Hibbeln, L. R. Nieminen, T. L Blasbalg, J. A Riggs, and W. E. Lands
Healthy intakes of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids: estimations considering worldwide diversity
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, June 1, 2006; 83(6): S1483 - 1493S.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur Heart JHome page
S. Lindeberg
Who wants to be normal?
Eur. Heart J., December 2, 2005; 26(24): 2605 - 2606.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
S. C Cunnane
Origins and evolution of the Western diet: implications of iodine and seafood intakes for the human brain
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2005; 82(2): 483 - 483.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
L. Cordain, S B. Eaton, A. Sebastian, N. Mann, S. Lindeberg, B. A Watkins, J. H O'Keefe, and J. Brand-Miller
Reply to SC Cunnane
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2005; 82(2): 483 - 484.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
R. Karp and S. Hassink
Calcium, Dairy Products, and Bone Health in Children and Young Adults
Pediatrics, June 1, 2005; 115(6): 1792 - 1792.
[Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2005 by The American Society for Nutrition