Daily energy expenditure and cardiovascular risk in Masai, rural and urban Bantu Tanzanians

¹ Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
² Bugando Hospital, Tanzania, United Republic of
³ Norwegian School of Sport Sciences,, Norway
⁴ Section of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Oslo, Norway, Norway
⁵ 5Department of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, Gothenburg, Sweden, Sweden
⁶ Karolinska Institutet, Norway

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: aneth182{at}hotmail.com.

Accepted 6 May 2008

	Abstract

Background Several studies have revealed that the Masai, pastoralists in Tanzania, have low rates of coronary heart disease (CHD) despite a diet high in saturated fat. It has also been suggested that they may be genetically protected. Recent studies detailing other potential protective factors, however, are lacking.

Methods A cross-sectional investigation of 985 Tanzanians men and women (130 Masai, 371 rural Bantu and 484 urban Bantu) with mean age 46.0 [SD 9.3]. Anthropometric measures, blood pressure, serum lipids, and the reported dietary pattern and physical activity level were assessed.

Results Eighty two percents of Masai subjects reported a high fat/low carbohydrate intake, whereas 77% of the rural Bantu subjects reported a low fat/high carbohydrate intake, and a high fat/high carbohydrate intake was the main dietary pattern of the urban Bantu group as reported by 55%. The most conspicuous finding for the Masai was the extremely high energy expenditure, corresponding to 2565 kcal/day over basal requirements, compared to 1500 kcal/day in the rural and 891 kcal/day for the urban Bantu. Mean body mass index among the Masai was lower than among the rural and urban Bantu. Mean systolic blood pressure of the Masai was also lower compared to their rural and urban Bantu counterparts. The Masai revealed a favourable lipid profile.

Conclusion The potentially atherogenic diet among the Masai was not reflected in serum lipids and was offset probably by very high energy expenditure levels and low body weight.

Key terms: Masai, Bantu, energy expenditure, diet, cardiovascular disease.