A genetic-ecological study of the risk foctors for lifestyle-related diseases in Oceanian populations

我们对大洋洲岛屿上的六个南岛人群体的遗传特征和与生活方式相关疾病风险因素(如肥胖和糖尿病)相关的环境因素之间的关系进行了研究。目标人群包括1名汤加人、2名印度尼西亚人和3名所罗门群岛人。根据平均身体质量指数(BMI)，汤加人被判定为肥胖，他们的腰臀比随着年龄的增长而增加。糖尿病发病率与肥胖指数，如BMI和腰围之间存在显著的相关性。研究结果还表明，腹部肥胖是糖耐量异常的重要危险因素。相比之下，印度尼西亚人的平均BMI比汤加人低得多，他们被归类为“正常”。在印度尼西亚人群中，空腹血糖与血压显著相关，而糖尿病与肥胖指数之间没有显著关系。三个所罗门群岛的人口由两个现代化程度不同的美拉尼西亚人和一个来自吉尔伯特群岛(基里巴斯)的密克罗尼西亚移民组成。他们的平均BMI高于印尼人，但低于汤加人。根据BMI，男性被归类为“正常”，女性被归类为“超重”。尿试纸条测试显示，现代化程度较低的美拉尼西亚人保持着传统的饮食(例如，主食块茎、当地蔬菜和鱼)。这些结果似乎反映了遗传特征和环境因素之间的协同作用，特别是饮食模式。

We examined the relationships between genetic characteristics and environmental factors associated with the risk factors for lifestyle-related diseases, such as obesity and diabetes, for six Austronesian populations on Oceanian islands. The target populations consisted of one from Tonga, two from Indonesia, and three from the Solomon Islands.Based on the mean body mass index(BMI), the Tongan population was judged ‘obese' and their waist-to-hip ratio tended to increase with age. Significant correlations were found between diabetic morbidity and indices of obesity, such as BMI and waist circumference. The results also suggested that abdomen fatness was a significant risk factor for abnormal glucose tolerance. By contrast, the mean BMI of the Indonesian populations was considerably lower than that of their Tongan counterparts, and they were categorized as ‘normal'. In the Indonesian populations, the fasting blood glucose was significantly correlated with blood pressure, while there was no significant relationship between diabetes and obesity indices. The populations of the three Solomon Islands consisted of two Melanesian groups that differed in their degree of modernization, and one group of Micronesian migrants from the Gilbert Islands (Kiribati). Their average BMI was higher than that of Indonesians, but lower than that of Tongans. Based on the BMI, men were categorized as ‘normal', and women as ‘overweight'. The urine dipstick test revealed that the Melanesian group with the low degree of modernization maintained a traditional diet (e.g., staple tubers, local greens, and fish). The results appear to reflect synergy between genetic characteristics and environmental factors, especially dietary patterns.