To investigate the association of the ghrelin gene Arg51Gln and Leu72Met polymorphisms with type 2 diabetes mellitus and lipid metabolism in Dongxiang, Hui, Han population in Gansu province.

From October 2008 to February 2010, 744 patients(386 males and 358 females) with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM group) from Gansu Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Linxia and Dongxiang County Hospital were recruited, including 242 cases of Dongxiang nationality, 242 cases of Hui nationality, 260 cases of Han nationality. Total of 673 healthy volunteers from above 3 hospitals at the same time were regarded as the control group, including 223 Dongxiang nationality, 203 Hui nationality and 247 Han nationality. Ghrelin gene Arg51Gln and Leu72Met polymorphisms were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Plasma glucose, lipids and other clinical indicators were detected. The genotype and allele frequency distribution were compared with the χ² test, while the correlation of genotype and plasma lipid levels were compared using correlation analysis and logistic regression analysis.

(1)The carriers of A (GA+ AA) had a higher risk tendency in T2DM group than the non-carriers in Arg51Gln, and the carriers of A (CA+ AA) had a higher risk tendency than the non-carriers in Leu72Met, but the differences were no statistical significance(all OR>1, all P>0.05). No correlations were found in Arg51Gln, Leu72Met polymorphisms with T2DM after adjusted the gender, age, body mass index(BMI) and blood pressure, etc(all P>0.05). (2)In the T2DM group, Arg51Gln genotype(GA+ AA) in Dongxiang and Hui population was positively correlated with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level after adjusted for gender, age, BMI and total cholesterol(r=0.406, 0.377, all P<0.05). Leu72Met genotype(GA+ AA) in Dongxiang and Hui population was positively correlated with total cholesterol level after adjusted for gender, age, BMI and LDL-C(r=0.189, 0.208, all P<0.05).

Arg51Gln, Leu72Met polymorphisms in ghrelin gene are probably unrelated to T2DM in Dongxiang, Hui and Han population, but might related to lipid metabolism in Dongxiang and Hui population.

Diabetes mellitus, type 2; Dyslipidemias; Polymorphism, single nucleotide; Ghrelin