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Document Details : Title: Is the Mediterranean diet especially beneficial for women? Subtitle: On the sex ratio of mortality Author(s): KESTELOOT, Hugo E.C. Journal: Acta Cardiologica Volume: 57 Issue: 4 Date: August 2002 Pages: 247-248 DOI: 10.2143/AC.57.4.2005420 Abstract : It is well-known that women live longer than men in all industrialized nations. This is partly due to genetic factors and partly to environmental factors. The genetic theory is based on the differences in sex chromosomes between the genders: men have a-XY and women an XX configuration. The male Y chromosome is, however, an incomplete chromosome. Any default in the X chromosome in women can be compensated for by the presence of a second X chromosome. This should provide women with an advantage on men. Biologically women are more important than men for the continuation of the human species by providing breast feeding to newborn. Moreover, some risk factors for mortality, such as smoking and heavy drinking, are less distributed among women, especially in the older cohorts. |
