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.

Study Overview

• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Conditions: Cardiovascular Disease; Diabetes

Detailed Description

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).

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 1100

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Maryland
    • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
      • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The estimated number of participants is 1100 with 100 of those being white participants. Based on Dr. Sumner's previous work with these cohorts, we expect 25% of the African Ancestry populations to have abnormal glucose tolerance or diabetes, 50 percent to be obese, and 20% to be hypertensive. For whites the % frequency will be lower. The power analysis is based on black populations, the focus of the study. The enrollment ceiling is 1100 and the anticipated enrollment by year is 100 individuals.

Description

• 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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Healthy Volunteers; African ancestry and whites (who will serve as a comparison group)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Metabolic disorders	type 2 diabetes, metabolic outcomes, dyslipidemia	One study visit

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Charles N Rotimi, M.D., National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• NIH Clinical Center Detailed Web Page

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 6, 2011

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 15, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 15, 2011
• First Posted (Estimated): March 16, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 5, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 4, 2026
• Last Verified: April 17, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Natural History; Cardiometabolic Diseases
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Endocrine System Diseases; Metabolic Diseases; Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Diabetes Mellitus
• Other Study ID Numbers: 110110; 11-HG-0110

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: All collected IPD will be shared through dbGAP following completion of data collection and planned assays.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Within 3 months after the last data generated.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Data will be shared through dbGaP with controlled access based on IRB approval: requestor must provide documentation of local IRB approval.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No