Author

Lynn Blythe

Date Approved

2007

Degree Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department or School

Health Sciences

Committee Member

Stephen Sonstein, PhD, Chair

Committee Member

Mary N. Haan, MPH, DrPH

Abstract

Our objective was to test the hypothesis that increased GGT predicts an increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in elderly Mexican Americans.

Data from a population-based cohort study of 1789 community-dwelling Mexican American men and women, aged 60-101, in the SALSA study were used. Data for 1,203 participants without diabetes at baseline were evaluated for incident diabetes. Proportional hazard models were used to predict the probability of incident T2D by GGT level.

After adjustment for age, gender, smoking, alcohol use, and BMI, the risk of developing T2D associated with GGT was significant at 1.4 (95% CI 1.2 -1.7). However, when the model was adjusted for fasting serum glucose, the risk was attenuated by 20%, and the confidence interval included 1.0 (HR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8-1.5).

In conclusion, elevated levels of GGT may be associated with an increased risk of T2D, but additional studies need to be done in this population.

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