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Recent investigations led by diabetes expert Rashmi Prasad have illuminated the complexities of genetic influences on type 2 diabetes risk, particularly highlighting the significant role of maternal inheritance. Earlier findings indicated that variants in specific risk genes for type 2 diabetes increase the likelihood of a child developing the condition when inherited from the mother. Conversely, paternal inheritance appeared to have a lesser impact. In her latest research, published in Diabetologia, Prasad examined how key traits—such as body weight, blood sugar levels, cholesterol, and insulin function—are transmitted from parents to their children, observing how these influences evolve over time and their implications for cardiometabolic health.
According to Rashmi Prasad, associate professor of genetics and diabetes at Lund University Diabetes Centre, “Our findings reveal that maternal influence is paramount in shaping blood sugar and cholesterol levels throughout childhood. In contrast, insulin-related traits show a growing paternal influence as the child matures, likely due to paternal genetic contributions. The rigorous design of this study, supported by extensive genetic analyses and population data, has enabled these insights.”
Maternal Impact on Blood Sugar and Lipids
In collaboration with researchers from King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital and Research Centre in Pune, India, Prasad assessed genetic and statistical data from 2,400 participants involved in the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study (PMNS). The study focused on the interplay of traits such as body mass index (BMI), insulin function, and blood glucose and lipid levels in both parents and their children as they grew, specifically at ages 6, 12, and 24. Notably, maternal genetics were found to significantly influence aspects such as birth weight and the child’s ability to manage blood sugar and lipid levels across their lifespan.
Prasad commented, “By analyzing group-level data on blood sugar and lipid levels, we noted a close correlation between the mother’s and child’s levels. Recognizing the mother’s substantial genetic impact on the child’s cholesterol regulation allows us to strategize preventive measures—specifically targeting glucose and cholesterol management in expectant mothers to mitigate potential cardiovascular disease risks in their children.”
Paternal Influence on Insulin Function
The study also included assessments of insulin sensitivity and the functionality of insulin-producing cells among participants. Analysis suggested that while maternal genes significantly impacted blood sugar regulation, paternal genetics played a more prominent role in influencing the child’s insulin function as they aged.
Prasad elaborated, “Given that paternal insulin resistance and secretion issues can adversely affect future generations, this underscores the importance of lifestyle changes. Increased physical activity has been shown to enhance insulin sensitivity in both fathers and children, potentially reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.”
The research team advocates for further investigations to deepen the understanding of how parental metabolic characteristics influence offspring health. Insights gleaned from such studies could inform early interventions aimed at preventing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity.
Prasad concluded, “While our findings attribute certain influences to maternal genetics, they may also reflect maternal effects during fetal development. More in-depth research is essential to fully unravel the mechanisms behind these parental influences. Our study provides compelling evidence that both parents contribute uniquely to a child’s metabolic profile.”
Publication “Parent-of-origin effects in the life-course evolution of cardiometabolic traits,” Diabetologia (2025)
Study Highlights Subject: Parent-of-origin effects, cardiometabolic traits; Research areas: Basic, clinical, and epidemiological studies; Study design: Quantitative, researcher-initiated, observational, encompassing longitudinal and cross-sectional analyses; Participants: Approximately 2,400 healthy volunteers from the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study (PMNS) alongside about 1,200 from the Pune Children’s Study (PCS).
Understanding Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance, where the body’s cells exhibit decreased sensitivity to insulin, coupled with a diminished capacity of insulin-producing cells to release insulin, leading to elevated blood glucose levels.
The genesis of type 2 diabetes is multifactorial, influenced by genetic predispositions and environmental factors such as obesity. This condition can lead to serious health complications, including cardiovascular diseases.
Scope of Research The researchers studied how traits might be inherited equally from both parents or may be more significantly passed down from one parent, termed parent-of-origin effects (POE). The team’s examination of cardiometabolic traits—particularly blood sugar regulation—in a specific Indian population through the PMNS confirmed these parental effects could be replicated in another cohort. They analyzed traits such as BMI, insulin function, and lipid levels, with a focus on different developmental stages: ages 6, 12, and 24. Throughout these ages, maternal influence on blood sugar and lipid regulation was most pronounced, while paternal influence was more significant concerning insulin function, reinforcing the complexity of inherited traits. The study, while observational, reveals vital insights into the complexity of parent-child metabolic relationships.
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