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Lean Gene May Increase Heart And Diabetes Risk
Tue, 28 Jun 2011
A new international study has revealed that a gene associated with a lower body fat may be linked to an increased risk of developing metabolic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes .

IRS1, also known as the "lean gene", is known to reduce the amount of fat below the skin. However, after analysing the genomes of over 75,000 people, researchers from 10 different countries discovered that the gene is also associated with abnormal blood glucose and cholesterol levels - two major risk factors of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease .

They explained that IRS1 reduces levels of subcutaneous fat which may result in fat being stored around organs (visceral fat) instead of under the skin. This type of fat is more harmful as it can affect how the organs function.

Douglas P. Kiel, MD, a senior scientist at the Institute for Aging Research and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School said: "People, particularly men, with a specific form of the gene are both more likely to have lower percent body fat, but also to develop heart disease and type 2 diabetes ."

"In simple terms, it is not only overweight individuals who can be predisposed for these metabolic diseases, and lean individuals shouldn’t make assumptions that they are healthy based on their appearance."

Kiel added: "We've uncovered a truly fascinating genetic story and, when we found the effect of this gene, we were very intrigued by the unexpected finding."
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