Atherosclerosis during periods of food deprivation following World Wars I and II
1983
Schettler, Gotthard
Data on the incidence of atherosclerosis and its associated risk factors in West Germany and Switzerland following World Wars I and II are assessed. According to autopsy records of 7 pathology institutes, heart infarctions were scarce in allied-occupied West Germany during 1945-48, when compared to similar data compiled from Swiss records from 1939-1955. Lipids (total serum cholesterol and lipids) were significantly higher, compared to other regions experiencing food scarcity. Mean adult total cholesterol and total lipids were 230 and 540 mg/dL, respectively, for regions not having food shortages, and 140 and 190 mg/dL, respectively, for food-scarce regions. Starving prisoners of war mai nly showed smoothed arteries and low atherosclerosis lesions, while US military fatalities in Korea had advanced lesions, arteriostenosis, and occlusions. Following diet normalization in Germany in 1948, a jump in fatal and nonfatal heart infarction and lung embolism occurred, with cholesterol and total lipid values climbing rapidly to present day values. Coronary heart disease incidence in Western Europe during food scarcity years is comparable to that currently seen in the People's Republic of China and rural Japan areas. (wz)
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