Original Message:
Posted by: Ken Jacobie (ken~therapist.net )
Date posted: Tue Feb 23 14:04:03 US/Central 1999
Subject: A question about DHA deficiency and the brain...
Message:
You assert that since the Late Paleolithic there has been a cranial capacity reduction. You also suggest that in addition, that there has been a "paralleled decrease" in meat consumption. I would like to know to what period is this reduction in meat consumption is referenced to? Are you sugesting that we(industrialized humans) eat less meat now than in the Late Paleolitc period?


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Reply:
Subject: Cranial Reduction
Reply Posted by: David Rawlins (hugeone~rocketmail.com )
Date Posted: Tue Jul 11 12:59:13 US/Central 2000
Message:
Dear Ken, One journal reference for man's recent reduction in cranial capacity is:Nature 387:173-6,1997.As I recall the study our cranial capacity reached its maximum about 35,000 years ago. It has diminished by about 11% since that time.8%of the drop occurred in the last 10,000 years coinciding with the advent of agriculture.Grains rapidly overtook meat in the diet.The decrease in preformed omega-3 fatty acids found in meat is now accelerated in this country where 90%of beef is raised and fattened on grains.The omega-3 fatty acids play a critical role in formation of eicosanoids and in the structure of nerve tissue,particularly brain and retina. Regards DR

http://web2.cast.uark.edu/bin/local.../a/8--3.3.1.1.1