I've read that atherosclerosis is common among old elephants (pure
vegetarians).

Paul Sand
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>From: Todd Moody <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Paleolithic Eating Support List <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: [P-F] Atherosclerosis in wild animals
>Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 13:59:19 -0400
>
>For some reason, I had the idea that atherosclerosis is one of
>the "diseases of civilization" -- an unexamined assumption, I
>guess.  In his book, _The Colesterol Myths_, Ravnskov cites the
>research of Detweiler et al, into atherosclerosis in wild
>animals.  This research was published in 1963 and largely
>ignored, it seems.
>
>Anyway, atherosclerosis is found in many wild animals but is less
>widespread than in humans.  The most likely explanation for this
>fact is that wild animals are less likely to survive into the
>elderly years when atherosclerosis is most likely to occur.
>Interestingly, birds are more atherosclerotic than most other
>animals.  Seals and sea lions have it, despite consuming large
>amounts of marine fats.  Vegetarian species have atherosclerosis,
>but strict carnivores do not.
>
>I'm not sure what to make of this information.  Atherosclerosis
>is not the same thing as heart disease, of course.  It seems like
>something that deserves more research.
>
>Todd Moody
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