Grand multiparity is associated with type 2 diabetes in Filipino American women, independent of visceral fat and adiponectin.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether multiparity is associated with type 2 diabetes, independent of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and adipokines.


METHODS
Participants were from the University of California San Diego Filipino Women's Health Study with at least one live birth. A 2-h 75-g oral glucose tolerance test was administered; adiponectin, leptin, ghrelin, reproductive history, family history of diabetes, VAT, and lifestyle behaviors were measured between 1995 and 2002.


RESULTS
Among 152 women, mean age was 59.5 years (range 48-73 years) and mean parity was 4.3 (range 1-12 births). Type 2 diabetes prevalence increased by parity group (low parity, 1-2 births, 25%; medium parity, 3-5 births, 30.3%; and grand multiparity: 6-12 births, 50%; P = 0.048). Family history of diabetes, exercise, insulin resistance, and leptin and ghrelin levels did not differ by parity group. Compared with women in the low parity group, women with > or =6 births were significantly older (62 vs. 57 years), had lower college completion (22 vs. 58%, P = 0.006), more hypertension (72 vs. 55%), higher VAT (74.9 vs. 58.4 cm(3)), and lower adiponectin concentration (5.79 vs. 7.61 microg/ml). In multivariate analysis adjusting for adiponectin, VAT, family history of diabetes, age, education, hypertension, and estrogen use, grand multiparous women had a threefold higher odds of type 2 diabetes (adjusted odds ratio 3.40 [95% CI 1.13-10.2]) compared with low parity women. No differences were observed in the odds of diabetes between women in the medium (1.10 [0.41-2.91]) and low parity groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Having > or =6 children was associated with type 2 diabetes, independent of adiponectin, VAT, family history, and other measured diabetes risk factors.
Araneta
Maria Rosario G
MR
Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA. haraneta@ucsd.edu
Barrett-Connor
Elizabeth
E
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000368:Aged; D049628:Body Size; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008019:Life Style; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010298:Parity / Q000502:physiology*; D010679:Philippines / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014781:Viscera / Q000033:anatomy & histology
D052242:Adiponectin; D054439:Ghrelin; D020738:Leptin