In this contribution we put forward a novel hypothesis concerning the aetiology of Type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes mellitus. The concept underlying our hypothesis is that poor foetal and early post-natal nutrition imposes mechanisms of nutritional thrift upon the growing individual. We propose that one of the major long-term consequences of inadequate early nutrition is impaired development of the endocrine pancreas and a greatly increased susceptibility to the development of Type 2 diabetes. In the first section we outline our research which has led to this hypothesis. We will then review the relevant literature. Finally we show that the hypothesis suggests a reinterpretation of some findings and an explanation of others which are at present not easy to understand.

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Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus: the thrifty phenotype hypothesis.

Levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides and total cholesterol are heritable, modifiable risk factors for coronary artery disease. To identify new loci and refine known loci influencing these lipids, we examined 188,577 individuals using genome-wide and custom genotyping arrays. We identify and annotate 157 loci associated with lipid levels at P < 5 × 10(-8), including 62 loci not previously associated with lipid levels in humans. Using dense genotyping in individuals of European, East Asian, South Asian and African ancestry, we narrow association signals in 12 loci. We find that loci associated with blood lipid levels are often associated with cardiovascular and metabolic traits, including coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, blood pressure, waist-hip ratio and body mass index. Our results demonstrate the value of using genetic data from individuals of diverse ancestry and provide insights into the biological mechanisms regulating blood lipids to guide future genetic, biological and therapeutic research.

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Discovery and refinement of loci associated with lipid levels

Background Melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) deficiency is the commonest monogenic form of obesity. However, the clinical spectrum and mode of inheritance have not been defined, pathophysiological mechanisms leading to obesity are poorly understood, and there is little information regarding genotype–phenotype correlations. Methods We determined the nucleotide sequence of the MC4R gene in 500 probands with severe childhood obesity. Family studies were undertaken to examine cosegregation of identified mutations with obesity. Subjects with MC4R deficiency underwent metabolic and endocrine evaluation; the results were correlated with the signaling properties of mutant receptors. Results Twenty-nine probands (5.8 percent) had mutations in MC4R; 23 were heterozygous, and 6 were homozygous. Mutation carriers had severe obesity, increased lean mass, increased linear growth, hyperphagia, and severe hyperinsulinemia; homozygotes were more severely affected than heterozygotes. Subjects with mutations retaining residual...

https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMoa022050

Clinical spectrum of obesity and mutations in the melanocortin 4 receptor gene.

https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(12)60110-X.pdf

The interleukin-6 receptor as a target for prevention of coronary heart disease: a mendelian randomisation analysis.

https://www.medicinejournal.co.uk/article/S1357-3039(14)00271-0/pdf

Epidemiology of diabetes

The Isle of Ely Diabetes Project is a prospective population-based study of the aetiology and pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Between 1990 and 1992, 1156 subjects aged between 40 and 65 years underwent a standard 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). A total of 1122 individuals who were not known to have diabetes completed the test and were classified according to WHO criteria; 51 subjects (4.5%) had previously undiagnosed diabetes and 188 (16.7%) had impaired glucose tolerance. The subjects with newly diagnosed glucose intolerance were significantly older, more obese, and shorter than those with normal glucose tolerance. Blood pressure, cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol concentrations were elevated and HDL-cholesterol levels were lower among those with abnormal rather than normal glucose tolerance. In multiple regression analyses stratified by gender and including age, body mass index, and the waist-hip ratio as covariates, there were significant differences between those with normal and abnormal glucose intolerance in blood pressure, triglyceride, and HDL-cholesterol, but not total or LDL-cholesterol. In both male and female subjects, height had a significant independent negative association with the plasma glucose at 120 min after administration of oral glucose (standardized beta coefficient = -0.12, p < 0.01).

Undiagnosed glucose intolerance in the community: the Isle of Ely Diabetes Project

In a prospective study concerning the pathogenesis of impaired glucose tolerance and Type 2 (non-insulindependent) diabetes mellitus, 346 subjects with no clinical history of diabetes were given a standard 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. The expected positive associations between 120-min plasma glucose concentration and age and body mass index were observed in both sexes and between 120-min plasma glucose and waist/hip ratio in male subjects. An unexpected negative correlation was found between 120-min plasma glucose and height in both sexes (r = − 0.23, (95% confidence interval, − 0.38− − 0.07) p<0.007 for male subjects and r = − 0.24, (− 0.37− − 0.11) p<0.006 for female subjects). These negative associations with height remained significant after controlling for age and body mass index in male subjects but not in female subjects. In the latter a highly significant negative relationship of height with age was recorded (r = − 0.33, (− 0.45− − 0.20) p<0.0001). Comparison between individuals with impaired glucose tolerance and control subjects matched for sex, age and body mass index showed that subjects with impaired glucose tolerance are significantly shorter. Mean (± SEM) height in the male subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (n = 29) was 173.4 ± 1.1 cm vs 176.9 ± 1.3 cm in control subjects, p = 0.02. In the female subjects(n = 39)mean(±SEM)height was 159.4±1.0 cm vs 162.4±1.0 cm in control subjects, p = 0.02. The negative relationship between height and glucose tolerance is a new epidemiological observation which has not been previously reported. One possible reason for this is that the most commonly used anthropometric index, body mass index, eliminates height as an independent analytical variable.

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Height and glucose tolerance in adult subjects.

Although plasma insulin and triglyceride concentrations are positively correlated in many studies, the relationships between insulin resistance, insulin secretion and hypertriglyceridaemia remain unclear. To study these associations, subjects between the ages of 40 and 64 were randomly selected from a general practice register and invited to attend for a standard oral glucose tolerance test for measurement of insulin, triglyceride and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations. The study comprised 1122 subjects who were not previously known to have diabetes and who completed the test. Using the World Health Organisation criteria, 51 subjects were classified to have non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, 188 had impaired glucose tolerance and 883 subjects had normal glucose tolerance. Triglyceride concentrations in subjects with glucose intolerance were elevated compared to those in control subjects, even after adjustment for age, obesity and gender (p < 0.001 for subjects with diabetes and p < 0.01 for those with impaired glucose tolerance compared to normal subjects). In separate multiple regression analyses for males and females, the most important determinants of the plasma triglyceride concentration were the area under the non-esterified fatty acid suppression curve (p < 0.001 in both genders) and the waist-hip ratio (p < 0.001 for men and < 0.01 for women). The fasting insulin concentration was independently associated with triglyceride concentration in women only (p < 0.01). The most important determinant of the area under the non-esterified fatty acid suppression curve in men was the 30-min insulin increment, a measure of insulin secretion, (p < 0.001) whereas for women age (p < 0.001) and the body mass index (p < 0.01) were the most important.

/pdf/hypertriglyceridaemia-in-subjects-with-normal-and-abnormal-22lmu9tc72.pdf

Hypertriglyceridaemia in subjects with normal and abnormal glucose tolerance: relative contributions of insulin secretion, insulin resistance and suppression of plasma non-esterified fatty acids

D. C. Brown

Papers

Undiagnosed glucose intolerance in the community: the Isle of Ely Diabetes Project

Height and glucose tolerance in adult subjects.

Hypertriglyceridaemia in subjects with normal and abnormal glucose tolerance: relative contributions of insulin secretion, insulin resistance and suppression of plasma non-esterified fatty acids