04 Aug Obesity Raises Risk of Diabetes But Not Heart Attacks in Twins

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Prof. Peter Nordstrom

Prof. Peter Nordström PhD
Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation
Geriatrics, Umeå University
Umeå, Sweden

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: Numerous studies has shown an association between BMI, CVD and death. However, it is not known to what extent genetic factors influence this relationship. We used over 4000 monozygous twin pairs that had different BMI. This mean that the difference in BMI must be due to environmental factors since the genetic setup is similar in monozygous twins.
Since the fatter twin did not have a higher risk of myocardial infarction (MI) or death, environmental factors that increase BMI is very unlikely to increase the risk of myocardial infarction or death. By inference the strong association between BMI, MI and death must be explained by the fact that the same genes control both obesity, MI and death. By contrast, the fatter twin had a higher risk of diabetes.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Weight loss from environmental influence, is unlikely to reduce the risk of myocardial infarction or death although it most certainly decrease the risk of diabetes.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: Our findings must be replicated in other twin cohorts.

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation:
Nordström P, Pedersen NL, Gustafson Y, Michaëlsson K, Nordström A. Risks of Myocardial Infarction, Death, and Diabetes in Identical Twin Pairs With Different Body Mass Indexes. JAMA Intern Med. Published online August 01, 2016. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.4104.

http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2540539

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Last Updated on August 4, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD