New study suggests dual-fuel strategy of sugar and meat drove human brain expansion
A new study published in Science challenges the traditional view that human brain expansion primarily relied on meat. Researchers Jennie Brand-Miller et al. propose a "dual-fuel strategy," suggesting that both meat (providing critical amino acids and micronutrients) and natural sugars/starches (delivering essential glucose) were crucial for powering the rapidly expanding human brain. The study models glucose needs over four million years, indicating that sugars provided over 25% of dietary energy. This finding highlights the importance of carbohydrate-rich foods, particularly fruits and honey, in early hominin diets, predating the widespread use of cooking that made starches more digestible.
Key Points
- Human brain expansion was driven by a dual-fuel strategy, incorporating both meat and natural sugars/starches.
- Meat provided essential amino acids and micronutrients, while sugars delivered the necessary glucose for brain metabolism.
- The study models suggest that sugars contributed over 25% of dietary energy, fulfilling obligatory glucose demand.
- Carbohydrate-rich foods like fruits and honey were vital for early hominins, even before cooking made starches easily digestible.
- This research expands on evolutionary diet theories, emphasizing the overlooked role of carbohydrates in brain development.
Exam Facts
- The study was published in a recent issue of the journal Science.
- Human brain size increased from around 300 grams in early hominins to about 1,500 grams in modern humans over four million years.
- Jennie Brand-Miller, professor of human nutrition at the University of Sydney, is a lead author.
- Archaeologist Karen Hardy, professor at the University of Glasgow, is a co-author.
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