Iran Daily

Genetic factors tied to obesity may protect against diabetes

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Some genetic variations linked with obesity actually protect against type 2 diabetes, heart attack and stroke, new findings suggested. Experts believe that where on the body people store surplus fat, whether round their middle or round the liver, may be geneticall­y determined, medicalxpr­ess.com wrote.

Exactly where extra fat is stored matters more than the amount when it comes to insulin resistance and risk of diabetes and other conditions.

Now 14 new genetic variants that dictate where the body stores surplus fat have been pinpointed by scientists across Europe, including at Brunel University London and the University of Exeter. And surprising­ly, some genetic factors that increase obesity work to lower metabolic risk.

“Where fat is stored is more important in terms of diabetes risk or other consequenc­es than the actual amount of fat,” said Brunel geneticist Professor Alex Blakemore.

“There are some genetic factors that increase obesity, but paradoxica­lly reduce metabolic risk. It is to do with where on the body the fat is stored. Directly under the skin is better than around the organs or especially, within the liver. 73. They used MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans of these people’s waists to match where they stored extra fat with whether they showed signs of type 2 diabetes, heart attack and risk of stroke.

They found 14 genetic variations or changes in DNA molecule linked with higher BMI (body mass index) but lower risk of diabetes, lower blood pressure and lower risk of heart disease. The study, in the journal Diabetes, showed that as they gain weight, people who carry these genetic factors store it safely under the skin, and so have less fat in their major organs such as the liver, pancreas and kidneys.

“There are many overweight or obese individual­s who do not carry the expected metabolic disease risks associated with higher BMI,” said Dr. Hanieh Yaghootkar at the University of Exeter Medical School.

“Meanwhile, some lean or normal weight individual­s develop diseases like type 2 diabetes.

“Since a large proportion of many population­s are overweight or obese, our findings will help understand the mechanisms that delay or protect overweight or obese individual­s from developing adverse metabolic outcomes including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and hypertensi­on.”

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