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Familial relationships between obesity and NIDDM
R L Hanson1, D J Pettitt, P H Bennett
1Diabetes and Arthritis Epidemiology Section, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Phoenix, Arizona 85014.
Diabetes
|April 1, 1995
Summary
Lean individuals with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) have a stronger family history of the disease. This suggests a greater genetic susceptibility load in leaner NIDDM patients, impacting diabetes risk assessment.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Epidemiology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Obesity and family history are known risk factors for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).
- Lean individuals with NIDDM may possess a higher genetic predisposition to diabetes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the familial prevalence of NIDDM in relation to body mass index (BMI) among Pima Indians.
- To determine if NIDDM in lean individuals is more strongly familial compared to NIDDM in individuals with higher BMI.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated NIDDM prevalence in offspring based on parental BMI and in siblings based on index diabetic sibling's BMI.
- Utilized oral glucose tolerance tests for NIDDM diagnosis.
- Adjusted analyses for age, sex, offspring BMI, number of diabetic parents, and parent's age at onset and sex.
Main Results:
- Offspring of diabetic parents with higher BMI (75th percentile) had a lower odds ratio (OR) for NIDDM compared to those with lower BMI (25th percentile).
- A similar trend was observed when analyzing NIDDM prevalence in siblings based on the index diabetic sibling's BMI.
- Risk ratios were only modestly affected when BMI was assessed before diabetes onset.
Conclusions:
- NIDDM occurring in the presence of a low body mass index demonstrates a stronger familial aggregation.
- This suggests that lean individuals with NIDDM may carry a greater genetic susceptibility load for the disease.