I would like to commend Loren Cordain, PhD,  for his interesting answer to
the question of data reliability, relevance, etc. of paleodiet principles.

I am particularly interested in the question, does the genotype that was
selected by paleo conditions, including paleodiets, also mean that modern
simulations of paleo-diets would have positive health implications for
modern people?( People who are supposedly  more interested in longevity than
in early maturity and fecundity.)

Although it is very complicated, I think the answer is yes, and I think that
two lines of reasoning support this.

First, recent evidence has shown that the grandmother generation of
gatherers are very economically productive, being more or less free from
heavy duty child rearing. So the older people are an important survival
asset to the tribe. It follows from this that the paleodiet could not have
selected solely for early reproductive success, at the expense of the health
of the older generation. What counts, then as today, is the overall
persistance of the group. The ability to have short generation times, while
definitely positive, is only one factor to be considered.

And second, many diseases which cause middle aged and geriatric mortality,
also markedly decrease fecundity, during childbearing years. One prominent
example is diabetes mellitus. This illness is skyrocketing in modern
populations, particularly in populations which are not  European or
Mediterranean, and who have a shorter history of agricultural life. In
females who have genetic susceptibility to this disease, it is common to
show gestational diabetes with the second or later pregnancy. This state is
extremely prejudicial to fetal development, and constitutes a high risk
pregnancy. High risk for the fetus and the mother. The baby is often
oversize, presenting the need for C-section. Emergencies such as
pre-eclampsia, eclampsia,  premature placental separation, and post-partum
hemorrhage are all much more common in the diabetic mother, and seem to be a
function of her hyperglycemia. Needless to say, in primitive conditions this
would have been selected out.

Since this genotype is still very much with us, it seems that the paleo-
environment and diet protected against the emergence of this disease. Much
the same argument could be made for many illnesses which today are mainly
considered to be problems of middle or old age- hypertension, auto-immune
disease such as lupus, etc.. These are also big obstetric problems, and
cause increased fetal and maternal mortality even today, with our very
advanced obstetric practices.

Overall, it is probable that the same diet which creates healthy young
adults, also favors the creation of healthy middle aged and older adults.

Michael Kern, MD