Non-insi 'lin dependent diabetes mellitus in Mexican pima indians

I'o compare the prevalence of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in genetically-related populations living in different environments, we are studying the Pima Indians of Mexico In contrast to the desert-dwelling group in Arizona, who has the highest-reported prevalence of NIDDM, Pimas in Mexico live in a remote, mountainous area Out of ! 70 Mexican Pimas studied to date (66 males. mean+SD age - 4.1±l(> v, BMI - 23 83 3 kg/m2; 104 females, age = 36H2 v, BM1 = 26 2-4 8 kg/nr'), diabetes was found in (> and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in 14 subjects (based on WHO criteria) Age- and sexmatched Pimas with normal glucose tolerance (N=20) were significantly different (p<0.05) from Pimas with NIDDM or IGT with respect to BMI (25 7 vs 2X 8 kg/nr, respectively} and waist to hip ratio (0 88 vs 0 £>2, respectively) When matched for age and gender, the expected prevalence of NIDDM among Pimas in Arizona is 33% Since the prevalence in Mexican Pimas (3 5%) is dramatically lower than among their counterparts in Arizona, our results support a strong role for environment in NIDDM pathogenesis (funded by NIH-DK45C>57).