A meta-analyses and Mendelian randomization study identified causal risk factors for type 2 diabetes (T2D). The study found evidence of causal associations between 34 exposures (19 risk factors and 15 protective factors) and T2D. Insomnia was identified as a novel risk factor (OR 1.17). The other 18 risk factors were depression, systolic blood pressure, smoking initiation, lifetime smoking, coffee (caffeine) consumption, plasma isoleucine, valine and leucine, alanine aminotransferase, childhood and adulthood body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, visceral fat mass, resting heart rate, and four plasma fatty acids. The 15 exposures associated with a decreased risk of T2D were plasma alanine, HDL- and total cholesterol, age at menarche, testosterone levels, sex hormone binding globulin levels (adjusted for BMI), birthweight, adulthood height, lean body mass (for women), four plasma fatty acids, circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D and education years. Eight associations remained after adjustment for adulthood BMI. Additional 21 suggestive risk factors were also revealed, such as alcohol consumption, breakfast skipping, daytime napping, short sleep, urinary sodium, and certain amino acids and inflammatory factors. The study suggests that prevention strategies for T2D should be considered from multiple perspectives on obesity, mental health, sleep quality, education level, birthweight and smoking. Source: https://link.springer.com/
