['The aim of the current study was to characterize β-cell function, insulin sensitivity and line of inheritance in patients with recent-onset type 2 diabetes of Yemenite and non-Yemenite Jewish origin.', 'A cohort study including 121 GAD negative diabetic patients, 59 of Yemenite and 62 of non-Yemenite origin, treated by diet\xa0±\xa0oral antihyperglycemic monotherapy who underwent 180-min meal tolerance test (MMT). Based on MMT, indexes of insulin resistance and secretion were calculated.', 'There were no significant differences in age, sex, diabetes duration, BMI, HbA1c and lipid profile. A significant difference was found in family history of diabetes: 63\xa0% of patients of Yemenite origin had maternal inheritance versus 35\xa0% in the non-Yemenite origin (p\xa0<\xa00.001). Both indexes of β-cell function, the insulinogenic and the disposition indexes were significantly lower in patients of Yemenite origin compared with non-Yemenite origin (0.66\xa0±\xa00.4 vs. 0.93\xa0±\xa00.8, p\xa0=\xa00.04; 2.3\xa0±\xa01.8 vs. 3.3\xa0±\xa03.3, p\xa0=\xa00.04, respectively) with no difference in insulin sensitivity. When females and males were analyzed separately, the difference in maternal inheritance remained significant in both, but the difference in β-cell function indexes was observed only in males (p\xa0=\xa00.03, p\xa0=\xa00.01, respectively).'] Does early beta-cell dysfunction characterize males with type 2 diabetes of Yemenite origin?