Effects of different definitions of low muscle mass on its association with metabolic syndrome in older adults: A Korean nationwide study

Prevalence and clinical characteristics of low skeletal muscle index among adults visiting a health promotion center: Cross-sectional study

Sarcopenia causes a variety of functional impairments and is associated with all-cause mortality, but once it occurs, it is difficult to treat and reverse. However, the prevalence of sarcopenia in healthy people has never been investigated due to the low awareness of sarcopenia in healthy people. This cross-sectional study was conducted in a single health promotion center from the January 1st 2020 to the December 31st 2021. Adults aged 18 years and older with an Inbody as part of their health checkup were included, and all data was collected from the EMR. Obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 23 (kg/m2) or more by Korean standards, and low skeletal muscle mass was defined as a skeletal muscle index (SMI) of <0.789 for men and <0.512 for women. 60.5% of the total participants (n = 5993) had low skeletal muscle mass. The low SMI group had lower BMI, waist circumference, and abdominal skinfold than the normal SMI group (low SMI group vs normal SMI: BMI; 25.47 ± 2.96 vs 22.98 ± 3.05, P < .001, waist circumference; 90.31 ± 8.80 cm vs 82.69 ± 9.71 cm, P < .001, abdominal skinfold; 18.78 ± 2.44 mm vs 15.99 ± 2.12 mm, P < .001). The body fat percentage was higher in the low SMI group than in the normal SMI group 25.30 ± 6.23% versus 29.82 ± 7.07%, P < .001. Triglyceride and uric acid levels were low in the low SMI group (TG; 147.69 ± 97.27 vs 115.86 ± 68.31, P < .001, uric acid level; 6.30 ± 1.38 vs 5.23 ± 1.30, P < .001) and high-density lipid (HDL) was high (HDL; 53.17 ± 11.41 vs 59.89 ± 14.72, P < .001). The odds ratio of low SMI prevalence for age, sex, BMI, fat body percent, and triglycerides relative to normal SMI was 1.05 (P = .031), 0.14 (P < .001), 0.12 (P < .001), 2.05 (P < .001), and 0.99 (P = .003), respectively. Of those who visited the Health Promotion Center, more than 60% had low SMI identified through Inbody. Low BMI and high body fat percentage increase the risk of low SMI. Compared to normal and low SMI based on obesity, Sex, height, BW, abdominal skinfold, and waist circumflex showed significant P values in both groups. The factors related to low SMI were TG, HDL, and uric acid levels.

Therapeutic Potentials of Reducing Liver Fat in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Close Association with Type 2 Diabetes

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most widespread chronic liver disease worldwide, confers a significant burden on health systems and leads to increased mortality and morbidity through several extrahepatic complications. NAFLD comprises a broad spectrum of liver-related disorders, including steatosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. It affects almost 30% of adults in the general population and up to 70% of people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), sharing common pathogenetic pathways with the latter. In addition, NAFLD is closely related to obesity, which acts in synergy with other predisposing conditions, including alcohol consumption, provoking progressive and insidious liver damage. Among the most potent risk factors for accelerating the progression of NAFLD to fibrosis or cirrhosis, diabetes stands out. Despite the rapid rise in NAFLD rates, identifying the optimal treatment remains a challenge. Interestingly, NAFLD amelioration or remission appears to be associated with a lower risk of T2DM, indicating that liver-centric therapies could reduce the risk of developing T2DM and vice versa. Consequently, assessing NAFLD requires a multidisciplinary approach to identify and manage this multisystemic clinical entity early. With the continuously emerging new evidence, innovative therapeutic strategies are being developed for the treatment of NAFLD, prioritizing a combination of lifestyle changes and glucose-lowering medications. Based on recent evidence, this review scrutinizes all practical and sustainable interventions to achieve a resolution of NAFLD through a multimodal approach.

Remission as an Emerging Therapeutic Target in Type 2 Diabetes in the Era of New Glucose-Lowering Agents: Benefits, Challenges, and Treatment Approaches

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a progressive disease with a growing prevalence, associated with an increased risk of complications. The introduction of new classes of antidiabetic drugs into clinical practice has dramatically changed the landscape of diabetes therapy. However, despite the progress made in the pharmacotherapy of T2DM, mitigating the burden of the disease on individuals, societies and health care systems remains a challenge. Remission has recently emerged as a therapeutic target in T2DM, achievable through a wide range of interventions. Recent studies have shown that extensive lifestyle changes, such as weight reduction, bariatric surgery, and intensive glucose lowering therapy, can prompt the remission of diabetes, but some unanswered questions remain regarding its long-term effects on diabetic complications. Metabolic surgery and novel classes of glucose-lowering medications are currently the most effective interventions to induce weight loss and by extension remission in patients with diabetes; however, the ideal strategy to achieve the long-term maintenance of remission remains doubtful. In this narrative review, we discuss the available therapeutic approaches to target the remission of diabetes through personalized multimodal care, based on the latest evidence.

Association between total protein intake and low muscle mass in Korean adults

Background

Adults with low muscle mass have a poor prognosis. Studies that examined the association between total protein intake and low muscle mass among adults are limited. Thus, we investigated the association between total protein intake and low muscle mass among Korean adults aged ≥19 years.

Methods

We included 15,995 adults (6528 male and 9467 female) aged ≥19 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2008–2011). We divided the participants into groups according to protein intake quartile: Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 groups. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of low muscle mass according to protein intake were analysed via multivariable logistic regression analysis. Stratified analyses according to sex, age and comorbidities were also performed.

Results

Of the participants, 3.8% had weight-adjusted low muscle mass. The prevalence rates of low muscle mass were 1.5, 3.0, 3.9 and 7.2% in the Q4, Q3, Q2 and Q1 groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Compared with the Q4 group, the Q1 group had the highest ORs for low muscle mass, followed by the Q2 and Q3 groups (Model 5; OR, 95% CI: 2.03, 1.36–3.02 for Q3; 2.44, 1.64–3.61 for Q2; and 4.32, 2.89–6.45 for Q4) after adjusting for confounding variables (p for trend < 0.001). The associations between protein intake and low muscle mass were stronger in younger individuals, men, individuals without hypertension, those with diabetes mellitus and those without dyslipidemia.

Conclusions

The prevalence of low muscle mass in Korean adults significantly increased with lower protein intake. Nutrition education for proper protein intake is also important for adults.

Trial registration

Retrospectively registered.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Progression to Diabetes Mellitus: A Retrospective Cohort Study

(1) Objective: This study examined the incidence and risk factors contributing to the progression to diabetes mellitus (DM) in a seven-year follow-up study of non-diabetic National Health Examinees. (2) Methods: For this retrospective observational cohort study, we used two national representative databases: the National Health Screening (HEALS) database 2009 and the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database 2009-2015. The eligible subjects without DM with blood sugar levels of <126 mg/dL were selected using the HEALS database. The subsequent follow-up and clinical outcomes were evaluated using the NHIS database. Cox proportional hazard regression was applied to examine the effects of the covariates on progression to diabetes. (3) Results: Among those who took part in the national health screening in 2009, 4,205,006 subjects who met the eligibility criteria were selected. Of these, 587,015 were diagnosed with DM during the follow-up by 2015. The incidence of progression from non-diabetes to DM was 14.0%, whereas that from impaired fasting glucose (IFG) to DM was 21.9%. Compared to the normal group, the newly diagnosed DM group was more likely to comprise older, female, currently smoking, and high-risk drinking participants and participants with IFG, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. (4) Conclusions: This epidemiological study in the Republic of Korea found risk factors similar to those of other studies, but the incidence of progression to DM was 22.8 per 1000 person-years, which is higher than that previously reported. Hence, more care is needed to prevent DM.