Abstract
AIMS: United States South Asians constitute a fast-growing ethnic group with high prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) despite lower mean BMI and other traditional risk factors compared to other races/ethnicities. Bilirubin has gained attention as a potential antioxidant, cardio-protective marker. Hence we sought to determine whether total bilirubin was associated with prevalent and incident T2D in U.S. South Asians. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional and prospective analysis of the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study. Total bilirubin was categorized into gender-specific quartiles (Men: <0.6, 0.6, 0.7-0.8, >0.8; Women: <0.5, 0.5, 0.6, >0.6 mg/dl). We estimated odds of type 2 diabetes as well as other cardiovascular (CV) risk factors using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Among a total 1,149 participants (48% female, mean [SD] age of 57 [9] years), 38% had metabolic syndrome and 24% had T2D. Men and women in the lowest bilirubin quartile had 0.55% and 0.17% higher HbA1c than the highest quartile. Men, but not women, in the lowest bilirubin quartile had higher odds of T2D compared to the highest quartile (aOR [95% CI]; Men: 3.00 [1.72,5.23], Women: 1.15 [0.57,2.31]). There was no association between bilirubin and other CV risk factors. CONCLUSION: Total bilirubin was inversely associated with T2D in SA men but not women. Longitudinal studies are needed to understand temporality of association.