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Asian Indians at Increased
risk for Heart Disease and Diabetes
 By
Narinder K. Saini M.D.
There is mounting evidence indicating that Indians have
a genetic predisposition to heart disease and diabetes.
The prevalence of heart disease is much higher among Indians
than other populations. Indians run a risk of heart disease
that is 2-4 times higher than other populations. In the
United States, the general risk of heart disease is estimated
at 2.5 percent. The risk in New Delhi is as high as 10
percent and in Kerala it is even higher. The risk in Indians
under 40 years of age is between 5 and 10 times higher.
Many Indians have high triglyceride levels and low HDL
(good cholesterol) levels. Indian appear to have a genetic
aberration in the regulation of triglyceride levels. The
abnormality prevents the effective breakdown of blood
fats. The reasons for this abnormality are not yet understood
but it is believed that the variation is in the region
of the affected gene that is responsible for the regulation
of coding not in the coding area itself.
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