My DNA results surprisingly show me as having 1% Khoisan DNA, which is highly unusual with me being of African American descent. For those of you who are unaware, Khoisans are said to be the earliest traced humans to ever exist on earth. They are an indigenous people. The Khoisan people’s origin is in South Africa. The late South African leader, Nelson Mandela, was said to have had Khoisan DNA from his maternal side. I also show 2% Bantu DNA.
AI Overview
The Khoisan (San and Khoi) people of southern Africa have historically low rates of diabetes when living traditional lifestyles; however, populations with Khoisan ancestry are experiencing a rapid increase in metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, due to urbanization and dietary changes. Hill Publishing Group +1
Key Findings:
- High-Risk Population: The South African “Coloured” population, which has high levels of Khoisan ancestry (
–
), has the second-highest prevalence of diabetes in South Africa, after the Indian population.
- Impact of Lifestyle Changes: Studies show that when Khoisan populations transition to modern lifestyles, they become susceptible to type 2 diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure, sometimes known as the metabolic syndrome.
- Traditional Lifestyle Results: In a study of 35 Khoisan people in Vite Vivali who still engaged in traditional hunting and gathering,
had normal weight and
had normal blood pressure, suggesting that their traditional diet and lifestyle offer protection against diabetes.
- Indigenous Medicine: The San and Khoi people have historically used medicinal plants like Buchu (Agathosma betulina) and Leonotis leonurus (wild dagga) to manage conditions similar to diabetes, which are now being studied for their pharmacological benefits.
Hill Publishing Group +4
Factors in Emerging Risk:
- Urbanization: Increased access to refined carbohydrates, reduced physical activity, and increased sedentary lifestyles are major drivers of diabetes in this population.
- Metabolic Syndrome: A study of a peri-urban, predominantly Khoisan-descended population in the Western Cape found high levels of dysglycaemia (abnormal blood glucose), leading to a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome.
SciELO SA +4
Medicinal Knowledge:
Research on medicinal plants known to the San and Khoi has shown that Buchu is effective in improving the management of metabolic diseases and is thought to prevent the progression of diabetes in its early stages.