Growth of Qinghai Tibetans living at three different high altitudes

This study compares the stature, weight, skinfolds, upper arm muscle area, and chest dimensions of Tibetan children, adolescents, and young adults who were born and raised, or who had lived from infancy, at 3,200 m, 3,800 m, and 4,300 m in Qinghai Province, People's Republic of China. While the indi viduals measured in Qinghai are among the tallest and heaviest Tibetans rep orted in the literature, they are nevertheless smaller and lighter than wel l-off children living at low altitude. The pattern of size variation among Tibetan males and females measured at the three high altitudes, along with evidence of a secular trend at 4,300 m, suggests that nutrition may signifi cantly effect growth at high altitude. Only minor differences in thorax dim ensions exist between Tibetan males and females measured at 3,200 m and 3,8 00 m. However, Tibetan males at 4,300 m possess slightly narrower and deepe r chests (during and after adolescence) than males at 3,200 m and 3,800 m. Since individuals from 3,800 m and 4,300 m belong to the same local populat ions, this characteristic is unlikely to be genetically determined. However , it may be related to differences in the degree of hypoxia or to the influ ences of other environmental conditions. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.