RISK OF NONINSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS CONFERRED BY OBESITY AND CENTRAL ADIPOSITY IN DIFFERENT ETHNIC-GROUPS - A COMPARATIVE-ANALYSIS BETWEEN ASIAN INDIANS, MEXICAN-AMERICANS AND WHITES

Epidemiological data from Asian Indians from Madras (AI) and Mexican A mericans (MA) and non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) from San Antonio heart stu dy were compared to determine the possible contributions by the anthro pometric measurements to the varied prevalence of noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in these ethnic groups. MA had the highest rate of obesity (mean body mass index (BMI) 28.9 +/- 5.9 kg/m(2)) and the highest prevalence of diabetes (men 19.6%; women 11.8%, P < 0.001 vs other groups). NHW although had high rates of obesity (mean BMI 26. 2 +/- 5.2 kg/m(2)) had low prevalence of diabetes (men 4.4%; women 5.7 %) than the AI (men 9.9%; women 5.7%) (Mean BMI 22.3 +/- 4.4 kg/m(2), P < 0.001). Although AI had lower BMI than MA, the risk conferred by B MI was similarly high in AI and MA and both the ethnic groups had high er risks than NHW. Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was also more prev alent in MA than in AI (men, MA vs AI, 11.8 vs 7.5%, P < 0.003; women 16.1 vs 5.5%, P < 0.001). NHW had lower prevalence of IGT in men (5.7% ) and women (6.3%) which were significantly lower (P < 0.001) compared to MA only. Age and BMI were predictive factors of NIDDM in all, whil e waist to hip ratio (WHR) was significant only in AI and MA, although NHW had high WHR. This may be an indicator of differences in genetic susceptibility. This study also highlights the similarity in risk fact ors between AI and MA living in urban environment and the significance of distribution of adiposity in the comparatively lean AI. (C) 1997 E lsevier Science Ireland Ltd.