The negative impact of market integration on cardiovascular fitness, inflammation markers and metabolic variables in Shuar Women living in Ecuadorian Amazonian Rainforest

Abstract

Purpose: Physical fitness is inversely connected with risk markers associated with cardiovascular diseases. Whether individuals in remote Shuar villages in the Amazonian rainforest exhibit a decline in fitness related to market integration has not been clarified.Methods: 33 healthy Shuar women were prospectively followed for seven years and were compared with 22 women, who had migrated from the rainforest to an urban area (Shell community). A modified Harvard step test was used to evaluate the cardio-respiratory fitness.Results: Anthropomorphic variables of the 33 subjects were unchanged at follow-up examination. These women had in comparison to women who had moved to the Shell community lower body fat / body mass index ratio, lower diastolic blood pressure and serum insulin level.After three minutes exercise heart rate had increased more in the Shell group and correlated positively with the numbers of years since the women left the rainforest. Body fat, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum insulin and high-sensitive CRP correlated significantly with heart rate. Conclusion:The outcome of transition in life style, from collecting wild food products and performing manual agriculture, to an urbanized style is characterized by a deterioration of physical fitness.