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Clinical Studies and Practice

Family history of type 2 diabetes, abdominal adipocyte size and markers of the metabolic syndrome

International Journal of Obesity volume 41, pages 1621–1626 (2017)Cite this article

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Abstract

Background/Objectives:

A major risk factor of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a positive family history of diabetes. First degree relatives (FDR) of patients with T2DM are more insulin resistant and are reported to have larger abdominal subcutaneous adipocytes than adults without a family history. Our objectives were to assess whether FDR of T2DM are associated with larger abdominal adipocytes independent of age, sex and abdominal subcutaneous fat and to assess whether a family history of T2DM is also independently related to femoral adipocyte size, as well as visceral fat and fasting plasma triglyceride (TG) concentrations.

Methods:

We extracted adipocyte size, body composition, plasma TG and demographic data of non-diabetic research participants of previous studies conducted in our laboratory. We ascertained the family history of T2DM from the electronic medical records. Multivariate regression analysis was used to assess whether FDR of T2DM are more likely to have other risk factors after adjusting for known covariates.

Results:

Of 604 participants, 148 were FDR of T2DM. Although abdominal and femoral adipocyte size was greater in FDR of T2DM than those without a family history (0.74±0.33 vs 0.63±0.33 μg lipid per cell, P<0.001; 0.81±0.29 vs 0.72±0.33 μg lipid per cell, P=0.01, respectively), this was confounded by FDR of T2DM being older, having greater body mass index and percent body fat. A family history of T2DM was a significant predictor of abdominal adipocyte size after adjustment for age and body fat distribution parameters in females (total R2=0.5, P<0.0001), but not in males. A family history of T2DM was not independently predictive of femoral adipocyte size, visceral fat area or TG.

Conclusions:

Female FDR of T2DM have larger abdominal, but not femoral, adipocytes, even after accounting for age and body fat distribution.

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Acknowledgements

PA, KCH, PR and MDJ designed the research. PA, PR and KCH performed the research. PA and KH analyzed the data and wrote the paper. Drs Michael Jensen and Kazanna Hames are the guarantors of this work and, as such, had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. This work was supported by grant NCRR UL1 TR000135, National Institutes of Health grants, DK-45343, DK-40484, DK-50456 and BIRCWH K12HD065987. Dr Anthanont was a postdoctoral research fellow supported by Thammasat University, Thailand.

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  1. P Anthanont

    Present address: 2Current address: Thammasat University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand.,

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  1. Endocrine Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Room 5-194, Rochester, MN 55905, USA

    P Anthanont, P Ramos, M D Jensen & K C Hames

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Correspondence to K C Hames.

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Anthanont, P., Ramos, P., Jensen, M. et al. Family history of type 2 diabetes, abdominal adipocyte size and markers of the metabolic syndrome. Int J Obes 41, 1621–1626 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2017.171

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