Circulating TNF-α levels are independently associated with impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, with variations observed across different ethnicities.
We confirm that TNF-α is associated with IGT and T2D in a large, multiethnic population, independent of measures of adiposity. Adjusted values of TNF-α, as well as relationships between TNF-α and variables related to T2D, varied by ethnicity. Increased TNF-α levels were predominantly associated with insulin resistance but not with primary defects in β-cell function.
Olson et al. (Thu,) studied this question.