SLC38A9 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: In a previous study we provided some evidence supporting a relationship between the genetic variability of some AATs genes (SLC7A5, SLC7A8, SLC36A1, SLC38A2, SLC3A2, SLC38A7 and SLC38A9) and the progressive and generalized loss of muscle mass in the elderly, as well as the chance to reach advanced ages, both of which are risk factors for T2D [21].