Influence of family history to type 2 diabetes on the body composition and homeostasis model assessment: a comparison between young active and sedentary men.
OBJECTIVE
Family history (FH) to type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a risk factor to the development of illness, inducing early anthropometric and metabolic modifications in sedentary subjects. The aim of this paper was to study the FH to DM influence on body composition and glucose metabolism in young sedentary and active men.


METHODS
In a cross-section analysis, we recorded anthropometric data, body composition (by BIA), plasmatic insulin and glucose in 60 young healthy Sicilian men (31 athletes and 29 sedentary subjects); FH was defined FH+ if subjects referred to have at least one family member of first degree with documented DM; men without FH to DM were defined FH-.


RESULTS
In sedentary subjects, FH+ was associated with the highest values of body mass index (P<0.05) and an increase in the waist-hip ratio (P<0.0585). Sedentary FH+ had a worse body composition, because of an increase in fat mass (P<0.05 for absolute and percent values). Compared to FH- sedentary men, FH+, with lower basal plasmatic insulin, had lower levels of homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) (P<0.05). Between FH+ and FH- athletes no differences were found.


CONCLUSIONS
In young men subjects, study confirms influence of FH to DM on physical data, body composition and glucose metabolism and the protective role of a regular physical activity. In subjects FH+ the promotion of health education can prevent the arising of obesity and diabetes; other studies on subjects of both sexes are necessary to assess relation between FH degree to type 2 DM and early physical and metabolic modifications.
Pomara
F
F
Human Physiology Unit, Experimental Medicine Department, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. cicciopom@tin.it
Russo
G
G
Gravante
G
G
D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition / Q000235:genetics*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio