ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association of the mitochondrial DNA region np16181-16193 variations with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Blood samples of 199 unrelated T2DM patients and 205 normal controls were collected to detect the mitochondrial DNA region np16181-16193 variations by PCR and sequencing, and to analyze the association of the variations with the major clinical symptoms.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mitochondrial DNA np16181-16193 region is a hypervariable area, with several polymorphisms. Four types of np16181-16193 region variations were found only in T2DM. The 1-hour postprandial blood glucose (P1BG) in the T2DM individuals with np16181-16193 region variations was significantly higher than those without variations (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference in other biochemical parameters (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mitochondrial DNA np16181-16193 variations could not be regarded as a risk factor for T2DM.</p>