Objective: To elucidate the relationship between point mutations of nt3243A --> G, nt3426 A --> G of mitochondrial DNA and type 2 diabetes mellitus(DM).
Methods: Two hundred patients with type 2 DM and 180 controls with normal glucose tolerance and absence of DM family history were included. The mutations were determined by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism.
Results: The point mutation nt3426A --> G of mitochondrial DNA ND1 was found in 2 of the patients with type 2 DM (1.0%) but in none of the controls (0). The incidence of this mutation showed no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05). And none was found to have the mutation of nt3243 --> G.
Conclusion: The point mutation nt3426 A --> G of mitochondrial DNA ND1 may not be an independent factor to cause type 2 DM.