Serotonin transporter polymorphisms affect human blood glucose control

We measured the effect of nutritional intervention on clinical data, including fasting blood glucose (FBG), and their association with polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) which might affect adherence. Enrolled in the intervention program were 264 Japanese women not on medication for diabetes, hypercholesterolemia or hypertension. The 5-HTTLPR allele (S and L) frequencies among the subjects differed markedly from those of Caucasians: SS ( n = 183), LS ( n = 69), and LL ( n = 12). The decrease in FBG (ΔFBG) from the beginning to the end of the program (11 weeks; short-term study), and ΔFBG from the beginning to a follow-up check performed between 2002 and 2004 (average of 23 years later; long-term study) was calculated. The SS homozygotes of 5-HTTLPR showed larger ΔFBG ( P = 0.01 and P < 0.0001 in the short- and long-term studies, respectively) than ΔFBG with other genotypes.