Genetic variation in adipokines may contribute to individual susceptibility to type 2 diabetes. This case–control study, published in Diabetology International, evaluated the association of vaspin and chemerin gene variants with type 2 diabetes and obesity in a northeastern Iranian population.

The study included 200 adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 200 healthy controls. After DNA extraction, the vaspin rs2236242 and chemerin rs17173608 variants were analyzed using tetra-ARMS polymerase chain reaction. Associations between genotypes, type 2 diabetes status, and body mass index were assessed.

Genotyping showed that the TT genotype of the vaspin rs2236242 variant and the GG and TG genotypes of the chemerin rs17173608 variant were significantly associated with increased type 2 diabetes risk. A strong association was observed between diabetes susceptibility and the recessive chemerin genetic model. The TT and TA genotypes of vaspin were also significantly associated with overweight and obesity, while chemerin variants showed no significant association with body mass index.