Sherpa climbers are superhuman: Study

LONDON: Nepal’sSherpas in Nepal have evolved to become superhuman mountain climbers, extremely efficient at producing the energy to power their bodies even when oxygen is scarce, new research showed.

The study by experts at the University of Cambridge on the metabolic differences between Sherpas and lowlanders was based on an expedition to the Everest base camp, and has been published in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences.

Scientists have known that people have different responses to high altitude. While most climbers require additional oxygen to scale Mount Everest, whose peak is 8,848 metres above sea level, a handful of climbers have managed to do so without.

Most notably, Sherpas are able to live at high altitude with no apparent consequences to their health. As a result, many act as guides to support expeditions in the Himalayas. Previous studies suggested differences between Sherpas and lowlanders, including fewer red blood cells in Sherpas at altitude, but higher levels of nitric oxide, a chemical that opens up blood vessels and keeps blood flowing.