Gene Trait May Increase Diabetes Risk
A University
of Alberta study has discovered a variation of a common gene trait that
could increase risk of type 2 diabetes.
The study, published
in July issue of Diabetes, said the team discovered 2 million Canadians
who may be at an increased risk of the disease if they carry a particular
type of a common genetic trait known as a polymorphism.
Authors Peter
Light and Michael Riedel said saturated and trans fats are much more effective
activators of a specific potassium channel found in the pancreas, which
reduces insulin secretion from the pancreas and increases blood sugar levels
when activated.
They said the
effect is amplified in the polymorphic potassium channel.
"We're suggesting
that people with this specific potassium channel polymorphism -- about
2 million Canadians -- may be more susceptible to type 2 diabetes if they
have a high fat diet or are overweight, two of the biggest risk factors
for type 2 diabetes," Light said. "This may explain why 20 percent of type
2 diabetic Caucasians carry two copies of this polymorphism in their genes
compared to only 10 percent in the non-diabetic Caucasian population."
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Copyright 2005 by United
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