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Season and the Metabolism of Fat and Carbohydrate: A Study of Vestigial Physiology

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Recent Studies in Bioclimatology

Part of the book series: Meteorological Monographs ((METEOR,volume 2))

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Abstract

A critical review of the literature on the seasonal variation in the metabolism of fat and carbohydrate is presented. The various observations are discussed with particular reference to Edmund Hughes’ theory of vestigial function. According to this theory the seasonal variations in physiological functions and metabolic diseases of human beings are attributable to a vestigial mechanism the function of which is analogous to that of hibernation in lower animals. The seasonal growth of children, the voluntary consumption of calories, fat, and carbohydrate from month to month, and the seasonal variation in various phases of the intermediary metabolism of fat and carbohydrate all tend to support the theory to some extent. The seasonal changes in the morbidity rate, mortality rate, and geographical distribution of diabetes mellitus also are in accord with the theory. Critical experiments deduced from this theory, however, are not available. A few such experiments are suggested.

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  1. University of Illinois, USA

    F. Sargent II (M. D.)

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F. Sargent II R. G. Stone

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Sargent, F. (1954). Season and the Metabolism of Fat and Carbohydrate: A Study of Vestigial Physiology. In: Sargent, F., Stone, R.G. (eds) Recent Studies in Bioclimatology. Meteorological Monographs, vol 2. American Meteorological Society, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-940033-11-2_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-940033-11-2_8

  • Publisher Name: American Meteorological Society, Boston, MA

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