Genes for Type 2 Diabetes: PPARG and CAPN10

A longitudinal study of 2,293 people in Finland has found that the PPARG and calpain 10 (CAPN10) genes are significantly associated with type 2 diabetes. PPARG regulates fat tissue and insulin sensitivity. CAPN10 may also be associated with increased susceptibility to insulin resistance.

People with:

• PPARG P12A PP genotypes had a 1.7 times greater odds of developing type 2 diabetes.
• CAPN10 SNP44 TT genotypes had a 1.5 times greater odds.
• Both PPARG PP and CAPN10 TT genotypes had a 2.6 times greater odds.

Nathaniel Clark, national vice president of the American Diabetes Association, suggested using genetic markers to determine specific interventions, such as weight reduction.

Clark, a 52-year-old endocrinologist, said that knowing of a genetic risk on top of an obesity risk might prompt people to diet who would otherwise not deal with their excess weight.

Once again, I wonder if knowing our genetic predispositions would motivate us to change our lifestyle more than simply understanding that being inactive, overweight, and gluttonous is not good. Regardless, we could use all the reminding we can get to live more healthily.

Bloomberg.com, October 31, 2005