Features of syndrome X in first-degree relatives of NIDDM patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the features of syndrome X are more common in first-degree relatives of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients than in control subjects with no family history of diabetes.


METHODS
A total of 154 first-degree relatives from 60 families with two or more NIDDM patients and 154 age- and sex-matched control subjects were studied. All subjects underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test and baseline lipid blood and anthropometric measures. The features of syndrome X that were studied were obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia (high triglyceride levels and low high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol concentrations), impaired glucose tolerance (World Health Organization criteria), and insulin resistance (as assessed by the homeostasis model assessment).


RESULTS
Relatives were heavier than control subjects (body mass index 27.5 +/- 5.2 vs. 25.2 +/- 4.6 kg/m2, respectively [mean +/- SD], P < 0.0002), had lower HDL cholesterol concentrations (1.2 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.4 +/- 0.4 mmol/l, P < 0.001), were more insulin-resistant (2.3 [0.7-7.6] vs. 1.6 [0.5-5.1], geometric mean [95% confidence intervals], P < 0.0001), and had more individuals classified as having impaired glucose tolerance (28 of 154 [18%] vs. 7 of 154 [7%], chi 2, P < 0.001). The differences in insulin resistance and HDL cholesterol concentrations between the groups were independent of obesity.


CONCLUSIONS
Features of syndrome X occur more frequently in relatives of NIDDM patients than in control subjects with no family history of diabetes.
Stewart
M W
MW
Department of Medicine, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.
Humphriss
D B
DB
Berrish
T S
TS
Barriocanal
L A
LA
Trajano
L R
LR
Alberti
K G
KG
Walker
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D017566:Microvascular Angina / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009679:Nuclear Family; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides