Study finds clear association between hemoglobin levels and key cardiovascular traits
A new study led by the University of Oulu in Finland refutes the belief that high hemoglobin levels are always desirable for health. A study based on two large human cohorts as well as experimental work supported that lower hemoglobin levels may protect against both obesity and metabolic syndrome. The phenomenon may be related to the body’s response to low-oxygen conditions and is used, for example, by endurance athletes in high-altitude training.
Hemoglobin is a protein in the blood that is responsible for transporting oxygen to the tissues of the body. Hemoglobin levels vary from one individual to another, with normal levels in Finnish population ranging from 117 to 155 grams per litre in females and 134 to 167 grams per litre in males.