Waist circumference is genetically correlated with incident Type 2 diabetes in Mexican-American families.

ABSTRACT: We aimed to determine the genetic and environmental correlation between various anthropometric indexes and incident Type 2 diabetes with a focus on waist circumference.We used the data on extended Mexican-American families (808 subjects, 7617.92 person-years follow-up) from the San Antonio Family Heart Study and estimated the genetic and environmental correlations of 16 anthropometric indexes with the genetic liability of incident Type 2 diabetes. We performed bivariate trait analyses using the solar software package.All 16 anthropometric indexes were significantly heritable (range of heritabilities 0.24-0.99). Thirteen indexes were found to have significant environmental correlation with the liability of incident Type 2 diabetes. In contrast, only anthropometric indexes consisting of waist circumference (waist circumference, waist-hip ratio and waist-height ratio) were significantly genetically correlated (genetic correlation coefficients: 0.45, 0.55 and 0.44, respectively) with the liability of incident Type 2 diabetes. We did not observe such a correlation for BMI.Waist circumference as a predictor of future Type 2 diabetes is supported by the finding that they share common genetic influences.

SUBMITTER: Mamtani M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3849209 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature