Abstract
BACKGROUND: Several epidemiological studies have evaluated the association between the NAD(P)H oxidase p22 phox gene C242T polymorphism and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), diabetic nephropathy (DN), and carotid atherosclerosis with T2DM (CA), but the results are inconclusive. This meta-analysis was therefore designed to clarify these controversies. METHODS: Systematic searches were performed using electronic databases such as MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure, as well as through manual searching of the references of identified articles. A total of 11 publications were eligible for this meta-analysis after running a search on the NAD(P)H oxidase p22 phox gene C242T polymorphism, including 7 with outcomes for T2DM, 7 with outcomes for DN, and 3 with outcomes for CA. The pooled odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated using a fixed effects model (FEM) or a random effects model (REM). Publication bias was tested by Begg's funnel plot analysis. Sensitivity analysis was also performed. RESULTS: The results showed a significant association between the NAD(P)H oxidase p22 phox gene C242T polymorphism and T2DM risk in the allelic model (REM: OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.06-1.43), additive model (FEM: OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.14-2.26), and recessive model (FEM: OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.10-2.05). A significant association was also observed for DN in the allelic model (REM: OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.06-1.47), additive model (FEM: OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.08-2.38), and dominant model (REM: OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.03-1.54). However, no association was observed for CA. Similar results were obtained in subgroup analysis based on ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this meta-analysis suggest that the NAD(P)H oxidase p22 phox gene 242T allele might be associated with an increased risk of T2DM and DN, but not CA.