Hemoglobin components in diabetes mellitus: studies in identical twins

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Metabolic Disorders
• Hematology

Background:

• Minor hemoglobin components, specifically hemoglobin Ala-c, are elevated in individuals with diabetes mellitus.
• The genetic basis for these elevated hemoglobin Ala-c levels in diabetes has not been fully elucidated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether the increased proportion of hemoglobin Ala-c in diabetes mellitus is due to a genetically determined abnormality.
• To differentiate between genetic predisposition and metabolic influence on hemoglobin Ala-c levels.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of hemoglobin Ala-c proportions in identical twins, comparing pairs concordant and discordant for diabetes mellitus.
• Statistical comparison of hemoglobin Ala-c levels between diabetic and non-diabetic individuals within twin pairs.

Main Results:

• Discordant identical twins showed significant differences in hemoglobin Ala-c proportions (10.4% in diabetic vs. 6.85% in non-diabetic).
• Concordant twins with juvenile onset diabetes exhibited high mean Hb Ala-c (11.4%) without significant intra-pair differences.
• Concordant twins with maturity onset diabetes had lower mean Hb Ala-c but also lacked marked intra-pair differences.

Conclusions:

• The abnormal proportions of hemoglobin Ala-c in diabetes mellitus appear to be a manifestation of a metabolic abnormality associated with the disease.
• Findings suggest that elevated Hb Ala-c is linked to the metabolic state of diabetes rather than a primary genetic factor.