According to a Dutch study, people with immigrant backgrounds are more likely to develop diseases like type 2 diabetes. The various causes for differences in disease risk for ethnic groups are not well known. For example because there has been limited research in patients of non-European origin. APH Researcher and internist Professor Bert-Jan van den Born is investigating this topic.
According to Van den Born metabolism is the conversion of nutrients that enter the body through food. This process is influenced by hormones that affect the metabolism rate, like thyroid hormone, and hormones involved in nutrient absorption and processing, like insulin and glucagon. Obesity occurs when more nutrients are ingested than burned, leading to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, also known as age-related diabetes.
Amsterdam University Medical Center's Helius study, involving 25,000 residents from various migration backgrounds, reveals significant differences in obesity and type 2 diabetes risk. About 1 in 10 adults with migration backgrounds have diabetes compared to 1 in 20 Dutch people without a migration background. Factors include dietary habits, exercise, genetics, and gut flora composition, which impact food intake and metabolism.
The exact causes of higher risk in people with a migrant background are not well known, as genetic research among them is limited. Ethnic differences affect the balance between absorption and burning of nutrients. New medicines like Saxenda and Ozempic can help reduce obesity and type 2 diabetes, but research on their effectiveness in non-European patients is limited. Experiences with other medications show that effectiveness can differ between people from different backgrounds. Van den Born: “It is usually assumed that effects are the same in everyone, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Research among a more diverse population can not only provide more insight into the efficacy and side effects of drugs, but can also provide insight into the origins of diseases.”
Read the full article in Nexis Newsdesk® (lexisnexis.com) (Dutch)