Lay summary
In New Zealand, Pacific Island peoples (PI) are disproportionally over-represented in those with diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The reasons for this disparity remain unclear. The ‘hunger’ hormone ghrelin is known to protect against CVD, in part, by silencing the ‘sympathetic’ nerves that stress cardiovascular function. Preliminary clinical data reveals that ghrelin is adversely reduced in people with diabetes. This study aims to show that ghrelin is lower in PI compared to non-PI, which would explain why PI are predisposed to CVD. We will measure ghrelin in blood samples from healthy PI and NZ European subjects, as well as people with diabetes, and determine whether reduced ghrelin levels drive a dangerous increase in sympathetic activity, which is known to underpin many cardiovascular morbidities. Finally, ghrelin and sympathetic activity will be compared between NZ-Pacific vs indigenous-PI to differentiate between environmental and genetic factors contributing to CVD.