Effects of High Altitude on Diabetes and Obesity Cedars-Sinai Skip to content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog English English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Translation is unavailable for Internet Explorer Cedars-Sinai Home 1-800-CEDARS-1 1-800-CEDARS-1 Close Find a Doctor Locations Programs & Services Health Library Patient & Visitors Community My CS-Link RESEARCH clear Go Close Navigation Links Academics Faculty Development Community Engagement Calendar Research Research Areas Research Labs Departments & Institutes Find Clinical Trials Research Cores Research Administration Basic Science Research Clinical & Translational Research Center (CTRC) Technology & Innovations News & Breakthroughs Education Graduate Medical Education Continuing Medical Education Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Professional Training Programs Medical Students Campus Life Office of the Dean Simulation Center Medical Library Program in the History of Medicine About Us All Education Programs Departments & Institutes Faculty Directory Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute Back to Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute About Us Research Areas Antipsychotic Drugs and Diabetes Research CB1 Receptor Antagonist and Adipocyte Studies Discovering Genes for Diabetes and Obesity Effects of High Altitude on Diabetes and Obesity Endothelial Dysfunction Impaired Insulin Resistance at the Cell Level Examining the Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Weight Examining the Role of Insulin Clearance During Insulin Resistance Facets of Diabetes and Obesity Research GLP 1 and Gut Brain Communication Research for Obesity and Diabetes Islet Beta Cell Research on Insulin Secretion Mathematical Modeling Studies for Glucose Metabolism Methane Producing Microbes and Obesity Sex-Based Differences Regarding Obesity and Diabetes Weight-Loss Surgeries for Treatment of Obesity and Diabetes Team Research Labs Job Opportunities Effects of High Altitude on Diabetes and Obesity Cedars-Sinai scientists have found an inverse association between altitude and diabetes and between altitude and obesity. Men living at high altitudes (between 1,500 and 3,500 meters) have been shown to have lower prevalence of diabetes and obesity than those at lower altitudes (below 500 meters). Researchers are interested in pursuing the mechanisms behind this association between geographic elevation and diabetes. Studies are being conducted to elucidate the effects of high altitude on insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity. Adults in the United States living in high altitudes have better glucose homeostasis, which is associated with lower odds of having diabetes, than those living at altitudes below 500 meters. To determine whether this association is related to altitude, complex analysis using mixed-model logistic regression to control for multiple risk factors and potential confounders was performed. The association persisted after adjusting for several covariates, suggesting that altitude does have an effect on diabetes prevalence. Orison Woolcott, MD, is a project scientist focused on investigating the effect of high altitude on glucose homeostasis at the Cedars-Sinai Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute (DORI). Woolcott is looking at the prevalence of obesity and diabetes in high-altitude populations to determine which attributes related to altitude lower the prevalence of both conditions. Atmospheric changes that occur as altitude increases include lower oxygen tension, lower humidity, higher radiation, lower temperature and lower barometric pressure. Isolating the effects of these environmental factors related to high altitude may reveal novel therapeutic methods for treating diabetes and obesity. Current directions in Woolcott’s research include the use of rodent models to investigate the isolated effects of these factors. While the prevalence of diabetes and obesity have been increasing, understanding the apparent protective effect of living in a high altitude may provide insights for combating these diseases. Previous Research Woolcott OO, Ader M, Bergman RN. Glucose homeostasis during short-term and prolonged exposure to high altitudes. Endocr Rev. 2015;36(2):149-173. http://press.endocrine.org/doi/10.1210/er.2014-1063. Woolcott OO, Castillo OA, Gutierrez C, Elashoff RM, Stefanovski D, Bergman RN. Inverse association between diabetes and altitude: a cross-sectional study in the adult population of the United States. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2014 Sep;22(9):2080-2090. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oby.20800/abstract. Castillo O, Woolcott OO, Gonzales E, Tello V, Tello L, Villarreal C, Méndez N, Damas L, Florentini E. Residents at high altitude show a lower glucose profile than sea-level residents throughout 12-hour blood continuous monitoring. High Alt Med Biol. 2007 Dec;8(4):307-311. http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/ham.2007.8407. del Pilar Valle M, García-Godos F, Woolcott OO, Marticorena JM, Rodríguez V, Gutiérrez I, Fernández-Dávila L, Contreras A, Valdivia L, Robles J, Marticorena EA. Improvement of myocardial perfusion in coronary patients after intermittent hypobaric hypoxia. J Nucl Cardiol. 2006 Jan-Feb;13(1):69-74. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S107135810500591X. Woolcott OO, Castillo OA, Torres J, Damas L, Florentini E. Serum leptin levels in dwellers from high altitude lands. High Alt Med Biol. 2002 June;3(2):245-246. http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/15270290260131975. No abstract available. 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