People born with broken PCSK9 genes have very low bad cholesterol and are protected from heart disease, but might have a higher chance of getting type 2 diabetes and gaining weight.
Evidence from Studies
No evidence studies found yet.
What Would Prove This
Per GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this claim, ordered from strongest to weakest.
The long-term metabolic consequences of PCSK9 deficiency.
A prospective cohort study following 10,000 individuals with PCSK9 LOF variants and 20,000 matched controls over 20 years, tracking incidence of diabetes, weight changes, and cardiovascular events.
Whether PCSK9 inhibitors increase diabetes risk in humans.
A double-blind RCT of 25,000 patients without diabetes, randomized to evolocumab vs placebo for 5 years, with annual glucose tolerance testing and diabetes diagnosis as primary safety endpoint.
Whether PCSK9 variants are more common in diabetics vs non-diabetics.
A case-control study comparing frequency of PCSK9 LOF variants in 1,000 type 2 diabetics and 1,000 non-diabetics, matched for age, BMI, and ethnicity.
The prevalence of diabetes in PCSK9 variant carriers.
A cross-sectional analysis of 5,000 individuals with known PCSK9 variants, assessing diabetes prevalence and metabolic parameters.
Current understanding of PCSK9's metabolic effects.
A narrative review summarizing genetic and clinical trial data on PCSK9 and glucose metabolism.