Gene Linked to Obesity-Related Ills

Your genes may affect your risk of fatty liver disease and insulin resistance, a study suggests. A buildup of fat in the liver can be caused by obesity or drinking too much alcohol. The disease also is common in Asian Indian men, for unknown reasons. Fatty liver disease can lead to more serious liver conditions. Insulin resistance is a problem with the body’s use of insulin to help turn sugar into energy. It is linked linked to obesity and can lead to diabetes. Researchers gave gene tests to 95 lean Asian Indian men and 163 men with mixed ethnic backgrounds. In both groups, 38% of those with a mutant version of one gene had fatty liver disease and insulin resistance. This was much higher than the average rate. The gene helps to regulate fat metabolism. People with the mutant gene were less able to break down fat. Therefore, it was stored in the liver.