To examine the associations between telomere length and metabolic health indicators across different ethnicities in Kuwait, highlighting its significance in diabetes risk assessment.
Key Findings:
South Asian and Southeast Asian participants had significantly higher median telomere lengths than Arabs (p < 0.05).
Telomere length was negatively associated with male sex, diabetes status, age, HOMA-IR, BMI, and HbA1c, with varying degrees of significance.
Negative correlations between telomere lengths and metabolic indicators were more significant in South Asians compared to Arabs and Southeast Asians (p < 0.01).
Interpretation:
Ethnicity significantly influences the relationship between telomere length and metabolic health, suggesting the need for ethnic considerations in diabetes risk assessments and potential clinical applications.
Limitations:
Cross-sectional design limits causal inferences and may introduce temporal biases.
Study may not represent all ethnicities in Kuwait, potentially affecting generalizability.
Conclusion:
Telomere length may serve as a potential biomarker for diabetes risk, emphasizing the importance of incorporating ethnic background in clinical assessments and the need for further research.
