# Cardiometabolic Health in Adolescents of South Asian Ancestry - the CHAriSmA study

> **NIH NIH R01** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $260,363

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract (FROM PARENT AWARD)
South Asians (SA), the fastest growing major ethnic group in the U.S., are also at greater type 2 diabetes
(T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk at relatively lower body mass index (BMI) compared to those of
European and African ancestry. The mechanism(s) underlying this increased cardiometabolic risk remain
undefined. We are submitting this research proposal in response to an NIH program announcement (PA-17-
021) requesting proposals addressing health disparities in NIDDK diseases. The increased cardiometabolic
risk in SA Americans represent an understudied and disparate risk. Mostly adult, associative studies performed
outside the U.S. indicate that SA have higher % body fat, visceral adiposity, and abdominal adiposity for a
given BMI than other ethnic groups. In SA adults, these studies have found increased insulin resistance and
dyslipidemia as well as decreased insulin-mediated glucose disposal (inversely proportional to visceral fat) and
-cell function. We propose to study SA youth, in order to elucidate early mechanistic changes underlying their
increased cardiometabolic risk. Given the unique fat distribution of SA, we propose to define ectopic fat
deposition and test for altered fat metabolism and -cell insulin secretion in SA adolescents in the U.S. We will
use cutting-edge, innovative techniques, including MRI/MRS, mathematical modeling of free fatty acid (FFA)
kinetics, and the glucose-potentiated arginine test (GPA) to measure insulin secretory capacity, methods not
previously used in SA youth. We have assembled a highly experienced, multi-institutional (Johns Hopkins,
CHOP, UPenn, CNMC), and multi-disciplinary team with a track record of successful collaboration, to perform
a cross-sectional study of 12-21 yrs old youth of SA ancestry (n=50), BMI ≥80%ile, compared to European
ancestry (White) (n=50) and African American (AA) ancestry (n=50) of comparable age, sex, and BMI%ile. AA
individuals are known to also have increased cardiometabolic risk but have decreased visceral adiposity,
making them a unique comparison group. Aims: 1.To examine ancestry-related differences in body fat
distribution (by MRI/MRS), FFA flux (by 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test and Minimal Model of fatty acid
kinetics), and to compare the relationships between visceral adiposity and FFA flux among ancestral groups. 2.
To examine ancestry-related differences in -cell insulin secretory capacity (by GPA), and compare the
relationship between FFA flux and insulin secretory capacity among groups. 3. To compare CVD and T2DM
risk factors and vascular end organ injury (aortic pulse wave velocity) among the 3 groups, and test for
ancestry-related differences in the relationships between FFA flux and cardiometabolic risk profile. Exploratory
Aim: to compare adipocyte-derived exosomal microRNAs involved in insulin signaling among the groups, and
measure their association with -cell insulin secretory capacity, for...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10337807
- **Project number:** 3R01DK115648-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** SHEELA NATESH MAGGE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $260,363
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-09-04 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10337807

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10337807, Cardiometabolic Health in Adolescents of South Asian Ancestry - the CHAriSmA study (3R01DK115648-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10337807. Licensed CC0.

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