Abstract
BackgroundPeople who originate from the Indian subcontinent (South Asians) suffer among the highest rates of type 2 diabetes in the world. Prior evidence suggests that metabolic risk factors develop early in life and are influenced by maternal and paternal behaviors, the intrauterine environment, and genetic factors. The South Asian Birth Cohort Study (START) will investigate the environmental and genetic basis of adiposity among 750 South Asian offspring recruited from highly divergent environments, namely, rural and urban India and urban Canada.MethodsDetailed information on health behaviors including diet and physical activity, and blood samples for metabolic parameters and DNA are collected from pregnant women of South Asian ancestry who are free of significant chronic disease. They also undergo a provocative test to diagnose impaired glucose tolerance and gestational diabetes. At delivery, cord blood and newborn anthropometric indices (i.e. birth weight, length, head circumference and skin fold thickness) are collected. The mother and growing offspring are followed prospectively and information on the growth trajectory, adiposity and health behaviors will be collected annually up to age 3 years. Our aim is to recruit a minimum of 750 mother-infant pairs equally divided between three divergent environments: rural India, urban India, and Canada.SummaryThe START cohort will increase our understanding of the environmental and genetic determinants of adiposity and related metabolic abnormalities among South Asians living in India and Canada.
Highlights
People who originate from the Indian subcontinent (South Asians) suffer among the highest rates of type 2 diabetes in the world
The propensity to develop type 2 diabetes is observed among South Asians living in urban environments in India and among the rapidly growing South Asian population living in Canada [3,4,5,6]
While this was significantly lower than the mean birth weight of European origin babies in Canada (3.4 kg, P
Summary
People who originate from the Indian subcontinent (South Asians) suffer among the highest rates of type 2 diabetes in the world. Previous studies have suggested that compared to white Caucasians, South Asian newborns have relatively lower birth weight and yet possess more adipose tissue [7]. This thin-fat phenotype at birth may lead to alterations Study rationale. Almost half of all deaths in South Asia are attributable to non-communicable diseases which account for 47% of global burden of disease [10] This propensity to develop type 2 diabetes is observed among South Asians living in urban environments inside India, and in those living outside of the country [11]. It is critical to understand the environmental and genetic determinants of these factors because collectively these risk factors account for over two-thirds of the population attributable risk of myocardial infarction [16]
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