TCF7L2 Polymorphism, Weight Loss and Proinsulin∶Insulin Ratio in the Diabetes Prevention Program
2011

TCF7L2 Gene and Weight Loss in Diabetes Prevention

Sample size: 2994 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Jeanne M. McCaffery, Kathleen A. Jablonski, Paul W. Franks, Sam Dagogo-Jack, Rena R. Wing, William C. Knowler, Linda Delahanty, Dana Dabelea, Richard Hamman, Alan R. Shuldiner, Jose C. Florez

Primary Institution: The Biostatistics Center, The George Washington University

Hypothesis

Does the TCF7L2 rs7903146 variant predict resistance to weight loss and affect proinsulin processing in high-risk individuals?

Conclusion

The TCF7L2 genotypes do not affect weight loss ability, but they do influence the proinsulin to insulin ratio over time.

Supporting Evidence

  • The T allele at rs7903146 was associated with higher fasting proinsulin at baseline.
  • No significant differences in weight loss were observed by genotype at rs7903146.
  • The proinsulin to insulin ratio increased over 2.5 years for T allele carriers.

Takeaway

People with a certain gene variant can lose weight to reduce diabetes risk, but they still have problems with insulin production.

Methodology

The study analyzed data from a randomized controlled trial with 2,994 participants over 2.5 years, focusing on the TCF7L2 rs7903146 variant's effects on weight loss and proinsulin processing.

Potential Biases

Potential biases related to self-reported ethnicity and treatment adherence.

Limitations

The study may not generalize to all populations as it focused on high-risk individuals in a specific trial.

Participant Demographics

Participants were primarily high-risk adults with a BMI of 24 or higher, including various ethnicities such as Caucasian, African American, Hispanic, and Asian.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.001

Confidence Interval

95% CI

Statistical Significance

p<0.001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0021518

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