People who have trouble sleeping may face an in-built risk of developing diabetes, British researchers reported last night.
A new study links a gene called MTNR1B, the hormone melatonin and high blood sugar levels.
Researchers found a mutation on the gene is linked to high blood sugar levels and a 20 per cent increased risk of developing diabetes.
Melatonin controls the body’s circadian rhythm – and the finding has caused speculation that these people may also suffer from unusual sleep patterns.
The study, reported at Nature Genetics, comes from a study of more than 18,000 people from France, Denmark and Finland. None of the people in the study had been diagnosed with diabetes but the researchers linked the mutation to high blood sugar levels.
Researcher Professor Philippe Froguel, of Imperial College, London, said: "We have been developing quite a clear picture of the key genes involved with high blood sugar and diabetes and this allows us to better understand them and suggest new avenues for treatment.
"We are also nearing the stage when we can develop tests that can identify the people at most risk of developing high blood sugar and diabetes later in their lives, so we can intervene to improve their health before they reach that point."
A second British study today also links obesity to genetic traits. Researchers studying children concluded that the reason some eat faster than others may be inherited.
Researchers studied the eating habits of some 254 twins, finding that fast eaters weighed more and also had some common genes.
Overweight children ate 4.3 bites per minute whilst thin children ate 3.8 bites per minute.
Researchers said health professionals could find ways to help children reduce the speed of their eating – even if there was a genetic factor.
Researcher Professor Jane Wardle, of University College London, said: "This twin study suggests that children who eat faster inherit this trait and that it is a worrying risk factor for weight gain, which could potentially be modified in childhood."
Sara Hiom, of Cancer Research UK, said: "Eating lots of burgers, chips and cakes more slowly will not solve the problem on its own. Children should be encouraged to eat a wide variety of vegetables and fruit while limiting the sugar, fat and salt in their diets."
Last week Irish researchers conducting a major European project said they also had evidence of a link between genes and the effectiveness of healthy diets.
Nature Genetics, 7 December 2008, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Monday 8 December 2008. AJCN MS 26175.
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