Some anthropometric and functional dimensions of the pygmy (Kivu Twa)

Abstract

At the Institut pour la Recherche Scientifique en Afrique Centrale (I.R.S.A.C.), Station of Lwiro on Lake Kivu, Republic of Zaire, anthropometric and spirometric measurements were made on 25 male members of a pygmy clan, living the traditional hunter gatherer''s life on the slopes of the Mitumba mountain range. The response of 15 men to graded exercise was tested on a bicycle ergometer. The morphology of the Kivu Twa was in agreement with that described for pygmies in the same general area. Blood pressure was extremely low, 99/64 (SD .+-. 12/11)mm Hg, and was not affected by age. Lung volumes were small compared to those of Europeans, and fitted well the standards for the Bantu in South Africa. The vital capacity of adult men was 3.183 (SD .+-. 0.151) and the 1 s forced expiratory volume 2.558 (SD .+-. 0.11) l. Their cardiovascular response to increasing physical work-loads was similar to that of other population samples in Central Africa and close to those of the Equator Twa. The maximum aerobic power, calculated indirectly, was small (1.957 (SD .+-. 0.158) l/min), but when expressed per kg body weight was 42.5 (SD .+-. 5.2) ml min-1 kg-1, comparable to that of many other populations.