Obesity and Diabetes in an Arab population: Role of Adenovirus 36 Infection

Nader Lessan,Budour Alkaf,Maria Majeed,Maha T Barakat,Koramannil R Saradalekshmi,Richard L Atkinson,Zendra P L Lee

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-65008-x

Abstract

Prior infection with adenovirus 36 (Adv36) has been associated with increased adiposity, improved insulin sensitivity, and a lower prevalence of diabetes. This study investigated the prevalence of Adv36 seropositivity and its association with obesity and diabetes among adults attending a diabetes centre in the UAE.Participants (N = 973) with different weight and glucose tolerance categories were recruited. Adv36 seropositivity (Adv36 + ) was assessed using ELISA. Differences among groups were analyzed using statistical tests as appropriate to the data. Prevalence of Adv36+ in the study population was 47%, with no significant difference in obese and non-obese subgroups (42.5% vs 49.6% respectively; p=non-significant). Females were more likely to be Adv36+ compared to males (odds ratio 1.78; 95% CI 1.36–2.32, p < 0.001). We found no significant association between Adv36 seropositivity and different BMI categories, or glucose tolerance status. In our population, the effect of Adv36 infection on lipid profile varied between healthy individuals and individuals with obesity. Adv36 infection is more prevalent in the UAE than in other countries but has no association with obesity. Our study found that females were more likely to be Adv36 positive regardless of weight or diabetes status.

Highlights

Obesity is the fifth leading risk factor for global deaths, and promotes the development of several chronic illnesses, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes[1]
Along with the dramatic rise in obesity has come a rapid rise in diabetes in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, which has the second highest prevalence in the world[4]
A few studies have been inconsistent with these findings[12,13,14], many others in multiple ethnic populations, including North Americans[15,16,17,18], Mexico19, 1Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, Abu Dhabi, UAE. 2Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA. 3Obetech Obesity Research Center, Richmond, VA, USA. ✉e-mail: nlessan@icldc.ae www.nature.com/scientificreports/

Summary

Introduction

Obesity is the fifth leading risk factor for global deaths, and promotes the development of several chronic illnesses, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes[1]. According to the global burden of disease (GBD) study[3], the MENA region had the second highest prevalence of obesity in women of 33.9% in 2013. Along with the dramatic rise in obesity has come a rapid rise in diabetes in the MENA region, which has the second highest prevalence in the world[4]. Over the last 20 years, there has been accumulating evidence supporting the hypothesis that viral infections may be associated with obesity in animals and humans. The correlation of natural Adv[36] infection with the development of obesity has been implicated in several studies across different ethnic populations, in both adults and children. Association of Adv[36] infection with obesity in humans was first reported from a US population[11]. A few studies have been inconsistent with these findings[12,13,14], many others in multiple ethnic populations, including North Americans[15,16,17,18], Mexico[19], Characteristics N

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