Diabetes Metab J.  2018 Dec;42(6):488-495. 10.4093/dmj.2018.0022.

Association of Thigh Muscle Mass with Insulin Resistance and Incident Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Japanese Americans

• Han SJ
• Boyko EJ
• Kim SK
• Fujimoto W
• Kahn SE
• Leonetti D

• KMID: 2449626
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4093/dmj.2018.0022

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Skeletal muscle plays a major role in glucose metabolism. We investigated the association between thigh muscle mass, insulin resistance, and incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk. In addition, we examined the role of body mass index (BMI) as a potential effect modifier in this association.
METHODS
This prospective study included 399 Japanese Americans without diabetes (mean age 51.6 years) who at baseline had an estimation of thigh muscle mass by computed tomography and at baseline and after 10 years of follow-up a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test and determination of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). We fit regression models to examine the association between thigh muscle area and incidence of T2DM and change in HOMA-IR, both measured over 10 years.
RESULTS
Thigh muscle area was inversely associated with future HOMA-IR after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, HOMA-IR, fasting plasma glucose, total abdominal fat area, and thigh subcutaneous fat area at baseline (P=0.033). The 10-year cumulative incidence of T2DM was 22.1%. A statistically significant interaction between thigh muscle area and BMI was observed, i.e., greater thigh muscle area was associated with lower risk of incident T2DM for subjects at lower levels of BMI, but this association diminished at higher BMI levels.
CONCLUSION
Thigh muscle mass area was inversely associated with future insulin resistance. Greater thigh muscle area predicts a lower risk of incident T2DM for leaner Japanese Americans.

Keyword

Body mass index; Diabetes mellitus; Insulin resistance; Muscle, skeletal; Thigh

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Fat
Asian Americans*
Asian Continental Ancestry Group*
Blood Glucose
Body Mass Index
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2*
Fasting
Follow-Up Studies
Glucose
Glucose Tolerance Test
Homeostasis
Humans
Incidence
Insulin Resistance*
Insulin*
Metabolism
Muscle, Skeletal
Prospective Studies
Subcutaneous Fat
Thigh*
Glucose
Insulin

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Adjusted marginal plots showing body mass index (BMI) interaction effects on the association between thigh muscle area and probability of 10-year incident type 2 diabetes mellitus. Probabilities of type 2 diabetes mellitus are shown for subjects with BMI 20, 25, 30 kg/m2 after adjusting for age, sex, family history of diabetes, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance.

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