The fast acetylator phenotype in diabetes mellitus: abnormal prevalence and association with the ABO blood groups.

The acetylator phenotype and ABO blood groups were evaluated in 55 normal subjects and in 156 diabetic patients [61 with Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes and 95 with Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes]. The prevalence of fast acetylators was significantly higher in the Type 1 diabetic patients (53%) than in the control subjects (29%). In the Type 2 diabetic patients the prevalence was 39%, and thus not significantly different from the control or Type 1 diabetic groups. In the Type 2 diabetic patients, but not in the control or in the Type 1 diabetic subjects, an association between the fast acetylator phenotype and the B blood group was found.