Investigating the association between Leucocyte Telomere length and glucose intolerance

Abstract

Background: Telomeres are DNA-proteins situated at the ends of linear chromosomes, responsible for genome stabilization. A link has been previously described between leucocyte telomere length (LTL) and age-related inflammatory disorders such as atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. Since diabetes mellitus has been described as a chronic inflammatory condition, it has been hypothesized that there is significant LTL shortening in individuals with dysglycaemia. Aim: To investigate leucocyte telomere length in patients with pre-diabetes, newly diagnosed, known diabetics on treatment and to compare the results to normoglycaemic individuals. Methods: A total of 205 eligible subjects (78% women) median age 56 years, from the Bellville-South community were followed-up between 2008 and 2011. Baseline and follow-up data collections included glucose tolerance status, anthropometric, blood pressure, lipids, insulin, γ-glutamyl transferase, cotinine, and HbA1c. In all participants, telomere length was measured using the absolute telomere q-PCR method performed on a Bio-Rad MiniOpticon Detector. Results: Although there was a change in individuals’ glycaemic status over the 3 years, no significant differences were observed in LTL across glycaemic status: (Baseline p = 0.7618, 3 Year Follow-up p = 0.2204). However, in a multiple regression model, adjusted for age and gender, LTL was negatively associated with age and GGT, and positively associated with high density lipoproteins (HDL) (all p < 0.05). Discussion and conclusion: This research study was the first longitudinal study of LTL in Africans. We show that LTL shortening is not evident within three years, nor is it associated with glycaemia. Our findings also corroborate previous notions associating LTL with age. The lack of association between LTL and glycaemia has been previously reported, however further studies are required using larger sample and broader BMI spread.