Blood type O would be less exposed to diabetes
Many risk factors for type 2 diabetes are known as inactivity, overweight, or age. But a new risk factor is added to this list: blood type.
This was recently discovered by a team of Inserm researchers, led by Dr. Guy FAGHERAZZI (researcher epidemiologist at Gustave Roussy). The study was published in the journal Diabetologia(1).
Since blood type is already known as a risk factor for stroke or coronary heart disease, the researchers wanted to determine its involvement in the occurrence of type 2 diabetes. To carry out this study, they used follow-up data from more than 82,000 women over 18 years (this data being used in a study called E3N(2)).
The results showed that women in group O had an estimated increased risk of diabetesof only 10%, compared to 17% in women in group AB, and 21% in women in group B. Positive or negative rhesus has also been shown tohave no impacton outcomes. The importance of blood type in the occurrence of diabetes is, however, quite small compared to that of overweight or inactivity.
According to the French Blood Establishment, 42% of French people belong to blood group O, 44% to group A, 10% to group B and only 4% to group AB. Guy FAGHERAZZI states that clarifications still need to be made to the results of this study. Many hypotheses are still raised about the relationship between diabetes and blood type, especially about markers of inflammation. It also states that “the blood group modulates the composition of the intestinal microbiota(*), which plays a role in glucose metabolism”. Everything remains to be confirmed. It is also specified that many mechanisms are identical in men and women. A similar study in humans would therefore have roughly the same results.
If the results of this study are confirmed, the blood type would then be taken into accountduring personalized diabetes assessments.
(*)The intestinal microbiota, also called intestinal flora, is the set of microorganisms (archaea, bacteria, protists) found in the digestive tract. It is not only intestinal bacteria, but also those of the stomach. See the INSERM short film on this subject.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.