Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
May14th, 2016
According to a new study, one more disease is associated with diabetes: twin study suggests genetic link between obesity, psoriasis and diabetes.
The chronic skin condition psoriasis is marked by an inflammation of the skin, resulting in itchy red and pink outbreaks.
The study was done to examine the association among psoriasis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and body mass index (BMI) (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) in twins.
This cross-sectional, population-based twin study included 34,781 Danish twins, 20 to 71 years of age. Data from a questionnaire on psoriasis was validated against hospital discharge diagnoses of psoriasis and compared with hospital discharge diagnoses of type 2 diabetes mellitus and self-reported BMI. Data were collected in the spring of 2002. Data were analyzed from January 1 to October 31, 2014.
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Although there appears to be an association between obesity and psoriasis, the cause of the connection is still unknown. It is possible psoriasis could lead subjects to remain sedentary, leading to obesity and diabetes. Another possibility is that these conditions could fuel skin inflammation, resulting in psoriasis. This may be driven by interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor in blood, driving both obesity and diabetes.
In addition to a possible genetic link, lifestyle factors, including a sedentary lifestyle, excessive consumption of alcohol, and stress can also lead to these medical conditions.
Practice Pearls:
According to a new study, one more disease is associated with diabetes: twin study suggests genetic link between obesity, psoriasis and diabetes.
The chronic skin condition psoriasis is marked by an inflammation of the skin, resulting in itchy red and pink outbreaks.
The study was done to examine the association among psoriasis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and body mass index (BMI) (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) in twins.
This cross-sectional, population-based twin study included 34,781 Danish twins, 20 to 71 years of age. Data from a questionnaire on psoriasis was validated against hospital discharge diagnoses of psoriasis and compared with hospital discharge diagnoses of type 2 diabetes mellitus and self-reported BMI. Data were collected in the spring of 2002. Data were analyzed from January 1 to October 31, 2014.
(.....)
Although there appears to be an association between obesity and psoriasis, the cause of the connection is still unknown. It is possible psoriasis could lead subjects to remain sedentary, leading to obesity and diabetes. Another possibility is that these conditions could fuel skin inflammation, resulting in psoriasis. This may be driven by interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor in blood, driving both obesity and diabetes.
In addition to a possible genetic link, lifestyle factors, including a sedentary lifestyle, excessive consumption of alcohol, and stress can also lead to these medical conditions.
Practice Pearls:
- Psoriasis has been shown to be associated with overweight and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The genetic association is unclear.
- People with severe psoriasis may be at a greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes, according to the results of a new study.
- The study, published last month in the journal Circulation, also found that people with severe psoriasis may have a higher chance of developing heart disease.