The observation of similar inverse associations with T2D in the two available studies on thrombomodulin (EPIC–Heidelberg, MONICA/KORA) may be related to the fact that both study populations comprised white adults from southern Germany with similar characteristics, and further studies on thrombomodulin and T2D in populations with different ethnic and socio-economic characteristics are needed. The gene discussed is THBD; the disease is type 2 diabetes mellitus.