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Rapidly declining body temperature in a tropical human population

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Gurven

    (UC Santa Barbara - University of California [Santa Barbara] - UC - University of California)

  • Thomas S. Kraft

    (UC Santa Barbara - University of California [Santa Barbara] - UC - University of California)

  • Sarah Alami

    (UC Santa Barbara - University of California [Santa Barbara] - UC - University of California)

  • Juan Copajira Adrian

    (Tsimane Hlth & Life Hist Project)

  • Edhitt Cortez Linares

    (Tsimane Hlth & Life Hist Project)

  • Daniel Cummings

    (The University of New Mexico [Albuquerque])

  • Daniel Eid Rodriguez

    (UMSS - Universidad Mayor de San Simón [Cochabamba, Bolivie])

  • Paul L. Hooper

    (The University of New Mexico [Albuquerque], Chapman University)

  • Adrian Jaeggi

    (UZH - Universität Zürich [Zürich] = University of Zurich)

  • Raul Quispe Gutierrez

    (Tsimane Hlth & Life Hist Project)

  • Ivan Maldonado Suarez

    (Tsimane Hlth & Life Hist Project)

  • Edmond Seabright

    (The University of New Mexico [Albuquerque])

  • Hillard Kaplan

    (Chapman University)

  • Jonathan Stieglitz

    (TSE-R - Toulouse School of Economics - UT Capitole - Université Toulouse Capitole - UT - Université de Toulouse - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

  • Benjamin C. Trumble

    (ASU - Arizona State University [Tempe])

Abstract

Normal human body temperature (BT) has long been considered to be 37.0°C. Yet, BTs have declined over the past two centuries in the United States, coinciding with reductions in infection and increasing life expectancy. The generality of and reasons behind this phenomenon have not yet been well studied. Here, we show that Bolivian forager-farmers (n = 17,958 observations of 5481 adults age 15+ years) inhabiting a pathogen-rich environment exhibited higher BT when first examined in the early 21st century (~37.0°C). BT subsequently declined by ~0.05°C/year over 16 years of socioeconomic and epidemiological change to ~36.5°C by 2018. As predicted, infections and other lifestyle factors explain variation in BT, but these factors do not account for the temporal declines. Changes in physical activity, body composition, antibiotic usage, and thermal environment are potential causes of the temporal decline.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Gurven & Thomas S. Kraft & Sarah Alami & Juan Copajira Adrian & Edhitt Cortez Linares & Daniel Cummings & Daniel Eid Rodriguez & Paul L. Hooper & Adrian Jaeggi & Raul Quispe Gutierrez & Ivan M, 2020. "Rapidly declining body temperature in a tropical human population," Post-Print hal-03081481, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03081481
    DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abc6599
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-03081481
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