[Medical history you don’t know]
Text/Su Shanghao
Pigs have given us a negative impression for a long time. They are often associated with being dirty, slovenly and fat. Therefore, when we call others anything with pigs, it has a strong negative meaning in it. However, many zoologists don’t think so, especially since pigs love to be clean. It’s been agreed that pigs love to be clean, and it’s us humans who keep them in captivity that create a lot of negative impressions.
Because pigs are physiologically similar to humans. For example, both are omnivorous and have very similar utilization rates of the digestive tract. Therefore, before human genetic engineering appeared, pig insulin briefly became a drug to treat human diabetes. Therefore, some people used pig kidneys as a cross-species drug for humans. Don’t be too surprised by the organ transplant experiment.
Because of this characteristic, people’s debates on the causes and conditions of obesity have received a lot of important confirmation and inspiration from pigs, and were even confirmed in 2023 by scholars from the Animal Science Department of North Carolina State University. A study published by Theo A Van Kempen and Zijlstra (Note 1) may surprise everyone. They believe that pigs should not be stigmatized for obesity. We humans can learn from them how to maintain a healthy weight.
Perhaps readers think the two people’s statements are sensational, but if you think regarding the research on obesity, when the research subjects are pigs in captivity, their behavior, eating methods, and nutritional conversion will be much better than those based on humans. The research is even more convincing, especially since everything they eat is recorded, especially highly processed foods – currently recognized as the most likely source of obesity.
Highly processed foods – are currently recognized as the most likely source of obesity. Picture/shutterstock
The first important finding of the study was that pigs generally did not have problems with obesity. Although they can take the food given by the experimenter without time limit according to their own preferences, pigs are less likely to gobble it up, and the method is usually small and frequent meals, mainly in the early morning. Therefore, Kempem and his colleagues believe that pigs are very smart enough to eat at a time that best suits their metabolic needs – unfortunately humans have lost this wisdom of self-control, which is often found in overweight people.
The second important finding is energy balance. Most people should be able to lose weight by eating fewer calories than required for maintenance and weight activity. Pigs appear to have an innate ability to do this because of their ability to convert calories into muscle instead of fat.
Another finding is that eating slowly digested carbohydrates, so-called “low GI foods,” can slow down obesity. This is true for humans and pigs.
In the end, the two of them did not forget to ridicule the experts who study human nutrition because they did not have much communication with their pig counterparts, especially in order to achieve economic scale by raising pigs and selling meat. Pig farmers have questions regarding food nutrition. There is far more knowledge regarding weight gain in animals than we realize. Perhaps a pig-based diet plan (Piggy Protocol) can be good news for those who lose weight.
If you ask me what I think regarding this research? I think the most important reason is that pigs are kept in captivity by humans and their lives are restricted. If they had the opportunity to enjoy progress and live a wild life like humans, the difference between the two species should not be too big.
Note 1: The source of the article is Metabolites. 2023 Mar; 13(3): 420.
●New column in 2023: Su Shanghao, Director of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hospital Affiliated to Sun Yat-sen Medical University, author of “The treasure of Mr. Guo Xingye》、《The evil power of DNA“, “History of Evisceration”, “Dark History of Medical Care”, “The Unfinished Farewell” and other works. I hope to turn all kinds of strange medical history into short articles that are not burdensome to read. One article per month, so stay tuned.
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Pigs: More Than Just Bacon?
Pigs have long been associated with negativity. We picture them as dirty, gluttonous, and fat. Calling someone a “pig” carries a strong negative connotation. However, many zoologists disagree, particularly regarding their cleanliness. Pigs are actually known to be quite meticulous regarding hygiene, and it’s often human captivity that contributes to the negative perception.
The reason for this renewed appreciation for pigs lies in their striking physiological similarity to humans. Both are omnivores and share remarkably similar digestive tract utilization rates. This similarity was so profound that before the advent of human genetic engineering, pig insulin temporarily served as a medication for human diabetes.
Pigs’ likeness to humans led to cross-species organ transplant experiments using pig kidneys, highlighting the intriguing possibilities for medical research. The parallels in physiology have also proved invaluable in obesity research.
Pigs as Obesity Role Models?
Research on obesity using captive pigs provides valuable insights into human weight gain due to their highly controlled environments. In 2023, a study published in *Metabolites* by Theo A Van Kempen and Zijlstra unveiled intriguing findings, suggesting that pigs might be less prone to obesity than previously assumed, and that humans might learn from their dietary habits.
Here’s why their research deserves attention:
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Pigs Practice Moderation: While given unlimited access to food, pigs tend to avoid overeating. They opt for frequent, small meals, especially in the early morning. This suggests a natural inclination towards portion control and aligning food intake with metabolic needs, something humans often struggle with.
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Efficient Energy Conversion: Pigs possess the intrinsic ability to convert calories into muscle more effectively than fat. This characteristic might be a significant factor in preventing excessive weight gain.
- Low GI Food Benefits: The study discovered that feeding pigs slow-digesting carbohydrates, known as "low GI foods," helped curb weight gain. This finding aligns with similar observations in human diets and highlights the importance of dietary choices in weight management.
Rethinking Nutritional Wisdom
The researchers’ findings highlight a potential blind spot in human nutrition research. They argue that too much focus on human subjects might be neglecting valuable knowledge gleaned from animal studies, particularly those involving pigs. The pig-based diet plan (Piggy Protocol) proposed in the study might hold promising implications for tackling human obesity.
Beyond potential weight-loss benefits, we must remember that pigs in captivity lead a restricted life, unlike their wild counterparts. This factor is significant when comparing species and evaluating their dietary behaviors.
A New Perspective on Pigs
The study compels us to re-evaluate our understanding of pigs. They offer valuable insights into human health, particularly in areas like obesity and organ transplantation. We must recognize their intricate physiological similarities and acknowledge their potential role as a model for understanding human biology. The next time you see a pig, perhaps don’t just think of bacon; remember their contributions to scientific advancement and the inspiring resilience these animals display in adapting to captivity.
Remember, the original study can be found in *Metabolites*, 2023 Mar; 13(3): 420.
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Medical history you don’t know
