Ethiopians reveal high-altitude twist

There’s more than one way for people living at extremely high altitudes to adapt to so-called thin air. Biologically, there must be at least three ways, according to a report in an upcoming Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

A team led by Cynthia M. Beall of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland obtained blood samples and medical data from 236 Ethiopian villagers living more than 2 miles above sea level. The villagers displayed an average blood concentration of oxygen-rich hemoglobin comparable to that already reported for sea-level populations. Oxygen saturation of hemoglobin among the Ethiopians also roughly equaled measurements made in lowland groups. The researchers now plan to look for a biological mechanism to explain how these people survive at their high altitude.

Previous research directed by Beall had found a high blood-hemoglobin concentration but low hemoglobin-oxygen saturation among Andean highlanders. Beall also reported that high-altitude Tibetans possess a blood-hemoglobin concentration similar to sea-level folk combined with low oxygen saturation.

****************

If you have a comment on this article that you would like considered for publication in Science News, please send it to editors@sciencenews.org.

Bruce Bower has written about the behavioral sciences for Science News since 1984. He writes about psychology, anthropology, archaeology and mental health issues.

More Stories from Science News on Anthropology

From the Nature Index

Paid Content