Genetics of Obesity, Diabetes, and Heart Disease in African Diaspora Populations

Background:

- African Americans have one of the highest rates of type 2 diabetes in the United States, and often have other medical problems related to obesity and cardiovascular disease. These conditions have various risk factors, including high blood sugar levels, high cholesterol levels, and insulin resistance. However, these risk factors have not been studied very closely in individuals with African ancestry, including Afro-Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa migrant populations. Researchers are interested in conducting a genetic study on obesity, adult-onset diabetes, heart disease, and other common health conditions in individuals with African ancestry.

Objectives:

- To collect genetic and non-genetic information from individuals with African ancestry to study common health conditions related to obesity, adult-onset diabetes, and heart disease.

Eligibility:

- Individuals at least 18 years of age who self-identify as African American, Afro-Caribbean, or migrants from sub Saharan Africa.

Design:

* Participants will undergo a physical examination and will provide a blood sample for study. * Participants will also answer questions about personal and family medical history and current lifestyle behaviors. * No treatment will be provided as part of this protocol.

Enrolling by Invitation

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Key information

Conditions

Diabetes Cardiovascular Disease Cardiovascular Diseases Diabetes Mellitus Endocrine System Diseases Glucose Metabolism Disorders Metabolic Diseases Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Age range

18 year–120 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

About this study

Study Description:

The study is to perform a quantitative trait analysis of multiple metabolic biomarkers and disorders including T2D, hypertension, CVD and obesity in a total of 1000 people of African ancestry and approximately 100 whites (who will serve as a comparison group) residing in the United States.

We will also perform exome sequencing of 48 cases of African descent and genotype identified variants in the larger cohort. Cases for exome sequencing will consist of individuals who have more than one metabolic condition, i.e., diabetes, pre-diabetes, obesity, hypertension and/or dyslipidemia. We propose to carry out exome capture of 48 individuals (96 chromosomes).

Objectives:

Primary Objective: Genotype variants of interest from genetic epidemiology studies conducted in Dr. Rotimi's lab in these individuals, with thorough clinical measurements available, in order to investigate biological mechanisms underlying observed associations.

Secondary Objectives: Conduct whole-exome capture on a subset of cases with at least 2 metabolic disorders (i.e., diabetes, pre-diabetes, obesity, hypertension and/or dyslipidemia). Genotype identified variants in the larger cohort of 1000 persons or in existing studies of African ancestry individuals (Howard University Family Study or Africa America Diabetes Mellitus Study).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Subjects will include unrelated persons who self-identify as white or African American, Afro-Caribbean or migrant from sub-Saharan Africa. Adults of African ancestry are prioritized for this study because of the paucity of genetics studies investigating the association of risk alleles contributing to the prevalence of T2D, CVD, obesity and other common conditions in this population. A small proportion of whites (less than 10%) will be included in this study, as they are in Dr. Sumner's ongoing projects; they will have the same clinical measurements obtained in the same laboratory to serve as a comparison group. This study only includes adults because these phenotypes are more commonly present in adults. In summary, inclusion criteria include:

Persons who self-identify as either

African American
Afro-Caribbean
A migrant from sub-Saharan Africa
White
Persons >= 18 years
Participation in a protocol with Dr. Anne Sumner, NIDDK

Exclusion criteria

Related individuals are excluded to avoid biases in our analyses due to genomic similarities between people who are related. Adults unable to consent will be included in this study. Pregnant women are excluded from this study because pregnancy induces changes in metabolism that would interfere with the measurements and outcomes of the study. In summary, exclusion criteria include:

Individuals related to participants (any known familial relationship, as reported by the prospective enrollee)
Adults unable to consent
Pregnant women

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Metabolic disorders

Time frame: One study visit

type 2 diabetes, metabolic outcomes, dyslipidemia

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

Nih

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2011
First posted: Mar 16, 2011
Registry last updated: Jun 5, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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