A study led by Dr. Trevor Day and his team from Mount Royal University highlights the crucial role of the kidneys in acclimatization to high altitude, particularly in Sherpas who are better adapted to high altitude ascent. Published in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study compared the blood acid-base acclimatization responses of lowlanders and Tibetan highlanders during ascent to 4,300 meters in the Nepal Himalaya. Sherpas showed more rapid and significant respiratory and renal acclimatization, resulting in fully compensated blood pH. This research provides valuable insights into the interplay of ancestry and physiological mechanisms in high altitude acclimatization, benefiting the understanding of human populations’ adaptation to high altitude ascent.
Source link
Study reveals role of kidneys in high altitude acclimatization
