Farmer-hunter profile

Throughout the evolutionary history of human beings, some genetic variants have helped to develop a continuous diversification of human beings, whose genetics have predisposed them to establish different nutritional habits among peers.

With respect to the human response to the metabolism of macronutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates or lipids, there are still many puzzles to be solved in order to have a detailed and complete picture of the interpersonal differences that occur in the metabolism of these elements.

However, the role of the CLTCL1 gene and the clathrin CHC22 proteins in the response to carbohydrate consumption and the efficiency of retaining glucose molecules within muscle cells and adipose tissue cells has been studied for some years.

In this way, the researchers Fumagalli M., Brodsky F.M. and their team have been able to develop two profiles of individuals, based on their genotypes, which represent the two varieties of efficiency in obtaining energy through carbohydrate metabolism. On the one hand, there is the farmer profile, for those who have a greater advantage in processing carbohydrate-rich diets, while in second place there is the hunter-gatherer profile, less efficient today in carbohydrate metabolism and with a greater predisposition to the development of insulin resistance.