Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is considered to be involved in the insulin resistance of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The offspring of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are at increased risk of developing diabetes and several metabolic abnormalities, but the underlying defects responsible are not known. We studied serum TNF-α levels in 30 healthy non-diabetic offspring of type 2 diabetic parents (group A), and the relationship between TNF-α levels and variables associated with insulin resistance and diabetes. For comparison, 30 healthy offspring of non-diabetic parents (group B) were also studied. The median serum concentration of TNF-α was significantly higher in group A than in group B, 3.5 pg/ml compared with 2.0 pg/ml, respectively. The individuals of group A also had significantly elevated levels of glycosylated haemoglobin, fasting glucose, glucose 2 h after an oral glucose tolerance test and triglycerides. We conclude that serum TNF-α concentration is significantly elevated in non-diabetic offspring of type 2 diabetics and this may predict later impairment of insulin action in these individuals.
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