PREVALENCE OF BETA-ALLELE OF THE INSULIN GENE IN TYPE-II DIABETES-MELLITUS

Fifty-two patients and 36 controls were compared in a search for insul in gene variants among type II diabetic patients with fasting hyperins ulinemia (above 90 mu U/ml) and a fasting C-peptide to insulin molar r atio between 1.11 and 1.50. Alpha and beta alleles of the insulin gene were characterized by restriction analysis of polymerase chain reacti on (PCR) products and direct sequencing. The more frequent occurrence of the alpha allele of the insulin gene within the control population as compared with a prevalence of the beta allele in the diabetic patie nts (P, 0.05) was observed. The beta allele, usually described as the rare allele, seems to be associated with the disease.