Activin A and B and follistatin showed no association with gender, WHR, alcohol consumption, level of exercise, serum cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, or anti-glycaemic medication used in any group (P > 0.05, data not shown), with the following exceptions: activin B showed a weak negative correlation with HDL in total subjects (r = − 0.224, P < 0.05), and follistatin showed a negative correlation with HDL in normal subjects only (r = −0.364, P < 0.05) and a positive correlation with triglycerides in the T2D group only (r = 0.410, P < 0.05). The gene discussed is FST; the disease is type 2 diabetes mellitus.