Low-Pigment Skin Type and Predisposition for Development of Type I Diabetes

Abstract

To ascertain whether skin pigmentation type and sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) light are associated with susceptibility to type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes, 55 type I diabetic patients were examined, 38 new-onset and 17 long-term cases. They were compared to 72 control subjects of the same geographic region and nationality. To evaluate the individual skin pigmentation type, a standardized questionnaire was developed. Reactivity to UV light was determined by a stepwise-graded UV irradiation. Significantly more diabetic patients in southern Germany had blue eyes than nondiabetic control subjects (55 vs. 26%, P less than 0.01), and significantly more diabetic patients had a low-pigment eye color (blue or green) than control subjects (66 vs. 38%, P less than 0.01). In addition, more fair skin color was noted among diabetic versus control subjects (84 vs. 60%, P less than 0.01). In response to UV irradiation, diabetic patients more often showed an increased UV-light sensitivity than control subjects (83 vs. 23%, P less than 0.001). The relative risk for susceptibility to type I diabetes in subjects with low-pigment eye color was 3.1, in subjects with fair skin type 3.4, and in subjects with increased UV-light sensitivity 5.8. The highest risk for the development of diabetes was seen in subjects who had low-pigment eye color and/or increased UV-light sensitivity (95 vs. 51%, P = 0.00002, odds ratio 17.4). We conclude that a low-pigment skin type may predispose for the development of type I diabetes.

Does an Association between the Idiopathic Left-Sided Varicocele and Eye Colour Exist?

“…Significantly more diabetic patients in southern Germany had blue eyes than nondiabetic control subjects, while the macular edema was more prevalent in blue- or grey-eyed diabetic persons in comparison to those with intermediate or brown eyes [4, 5]. Eleven percent from Italian women with rectovaginal endometriosis were with green or blue eyes, while only 3% of healthy controls were with light eyes [10].…”

A Case–Sibling Assessment of the Association Between Skin Pigmentation and Other Vitamin D‐related Factors and Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

“…Fair skin and skin sensitivity to the sun have previously been significantly associated with T1DM with odds ratios of 3.4 and 5.8, respectively (3). This skin phenotype, as well as red hair, is over‐represented among individuals with reduced function variants of the melanocortin receptor 1 (MC1R) genotype (12).…”

“…Vitamin D synthesis, per UVR dose, is increased up to six‐fold among those with fair compared to very darkly pigmented skin (2). Yet, the only study to examine skin phenotype and T1DM to date reported in 1990 that fair skin was associated with increased, not decreased, T1DM risk (OR 3.4, P = 0.003) (3). This important observation has not been examined in any subsequent studies.…”

Eye color and IDDM

“…K awamori et al (1) give impressive data of their ultrasound measurements of the carotid artery wall. The results concerning the great majority of their patients (275 NIDDM patients) are evident.…”

“…Eye color and IDDM I t has been shown that a relatively large proportion of IDDM patients in southern Germany have a low-pigment eye color (blue or green) compared with nondiabetic control subjects (66 vs. 38%, P < 0.01) (1). Although no studies exist concerning the exact percentage, it is commonly accepted that dark eye colors prevail among Greeks.…”