A recent Leicester study published in eBioMedicine has shed light on why people of South Asian (SA) origin may face a higher risk of cardiometabolic disorders and respond differently to physical activity compared to White European people (WE).
Using UK Biobank data from over 49,000 participants, University of Leicester researchers funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) examined hundreds of proteins found in blood plasma, to understand how ethnicity and levels of physical activity influence cardiometabolic health.
Dr Joe Henson, Associate Professor of 24-hr Physical Behaviours and Health, said: “In our discovery phase we identified 464 proteins linked to physical activity and 375 associated with ethnicity.
“To validate these findings, we examined a targeted group of participants at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and whose physical activity was tracked over four years using wearable devices.
“In this validation group, interleukin-6 (IL-6) emerged as the only protein significantly related to physical activity, showing reduced levels in individuals who increased their daily steps. This suggests IL-6 may be a key marker of exercise-related anti-inflammatory benefits.”
Ethnicity-specific differences were even more pronounced: 16 proteins were validated, including chemokines (CCL28, CCL15), hepatokines (FABP1), adipokines (FABP2), and pancreatic enzymes (AMY2A, AMY2B). These patterns highlight distinct immune, inflammatory, and metabolic pathways that differ between South Asian and White European populations.
Dr Henson concluded: “Our findings underscore the importance of addressing ethnic disparities in cardiometabolic health, and the potential impact for culturally tailored interventions.
“Our future research will explore whether modifying physical activity can influence these protein signatures and reduce disease risk.”
Dr Esther Mukuka, NIHR Director of Research Inclusion, said: “Studies such as this, funded by the NIHR, underline the importance of taking an inclusive approach to research.
“By deepening our understanding of disparities experienced by people from different ethnic backgrounds, we are better placed to develop solutions and treatments that improve outcomes and quality of life for all communities.”