Body Composition and the Components of Metabolic Syndrome in Type 2 Diabetes: The Roles of Disease Duration and Glycemic Control

Metabolic Syndrome and Psoriasis: Pivotal Roles of Chronic Inflammation and Gut Microbiota

In recent years, the incidence of metabolic syndrome (MS) has increased due to lifestyle-related factors in developed countries. MS represents a group of conditions that increase the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and other severe health problems. Low-grade chronic inflammation is now considered one of the key aspects of MS and could be defined as a new cardiovascular risk factor. Indeed, an increase in visceral adipose tissue, typical of obesity, contributes to the development of an inflammatory state, which, in turn, induces the production of several proinflammatory cytokines responsible for insulin resistance. Psoriasis is a chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease and is characterized by the increased release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can contribute to different pathological conditions within the spectrum of MS. A link between metabolic disorders and Psoriasis has emerged from evidence indicating that weight loss obtained through healthy diets and exercise was able to improve the clinical course and therapeutic response of Psoriasis in patients with obesity or overweight patients and even prevent its occurrence. A key factor in this balance is the gut microbiota; it is an extremely dynamic system, and this makes its manipulation through diet possible via probiotic, prebiotic, and symbiotic compounds. Given this, the gut microbiota represents an additional therapeutic target that can improve metabolism in different clinical conditions.

Impact of Concurrent Exercise Training on Cardiac Autonomic Modulation, Metabolic Profile, Body Composition, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Quality of Life in Type 2 Diabetes with Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) often leads to cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN), a severe complication affecting cardiovascular health. Exercise training is a proven intervention for improving metabolic control and cardiovascular health in T2DM, but the effects of concurrent exercise training (CET), combining aerobic and resistance exercises, on CAN are not fully understood. Objective: This randomized controlled trial investigates the impact of a structured CET program on cardiac autonomic modulation, metabolic profile, body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and quality of life (QoL) in individuals with T2DM and CAN. Methods: A total of 96 participants, aged 35-70 years, with T2DM and CAN, were randomized into CET (n = 48) and control (n = 48) groups. The CET group engaged in combined aerobic and resistance training three times per week for 13 weeks, while the control group received standard care. Primary outcomes included heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate recovery (HRR). Secondary outcomes were metabolic profile, body composition, CRF, and QoL, which were assessed using standardized protocols and validated questionnaires. The trial was registered with the Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI/2021/09/036711). Results: Significant improvements were noted in the CET group compared to controls. HRV metrics (SDNN, RMSSD, pNN50, TP, LF power, HF power, and LF/HF ratio) and HRR metrics (HRR30s, HRR1, HRR2, and HRR3) all showed significant enhancements (p < 0.01). The CET group also exhibited substantial reductions in fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose, HbA1c, waist circumference, hip circumference, and percentage body fat (p < 0.01). Improvements were observed in lipid profile markers and CRF (VO2max) (p < 0.01). QoL scores improved significantly in the CET group as per the ADDQoL-19 (p < 0.01). Conclusions: CET significantly enhances cardiac autonomic modulation, metabolic profile, body composition, CRF, and QoL in individuals with T2DM and CAN. These findings support the integration of CET into standard T2DM management to improve clinical outcomes and QoL. Further research is needed to explore the long-term benefits and broader applicability of CET in diverse diabetic populations.

Body composition of type 2 diabetes patients in Uganda: A case-control study

Introduction

The prevalence of obesity among people diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) has been widely documented. However, the specific composition of this bodyweight remains largely unknown. The study aimed to understand the body composition of T2DM patients using the bioelectric impedance analysis technique, comparing findings to sex and agematched controls.

Materials and Methods

A comparative case-control study was carried out among 139 known cases of Type 2 diabetes aged 18 to 78 years randomly sampled from the diabetic clinic of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital. We matched them to 139 hospital controls who were healthy non-diabetic attendants. Body composition parameters were computed and summarized as medians and interquartile ranges. Differences in the medians of body composition parameters were further assessed using the Mann- Whitney U test. Fat-free and fat mass indices were derived to offer a precise estimation of body composition parameters adjusted for height differences among study participants.

Results

Cases had significantly higher median systolic blood pressure, pulse rate, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR), total fat percentage, fat mass amount, Fat Mass Index, visceral fat, and metabolic age than their counterparts, whereas controls had significantly higher median total body water percentage versus cases. The highest significant differences occurred in fat percentage composition (Cases: β: 6.9 (95% C.I: 4.4, 9.4); Controls: Ref) followed by visceral fat (Cases: β: 3.5 (95% C.I: 2.5, 4.4); controls: Ref) and Fat Mass Index (Cases: 95% C.I: 2.6 (95% C.I: 1.6, 3.7). Cases had significantly higher Fat Mass Index, visceral fat and fat percentage (all p<0.05) than controls.

Conclusions

Routine assessment of body composition of T2DM patients needs to be done to assess the amount, type and pattern of weight gain to prevent increases in adiposity.

Application of exosomes in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic diseases

Pancreatic diseases, a serious threat to human health, have garnered considerable research interest, as they are associated with a high mortality rate. However, owing to the uncertain etiology and complex pathophysiology, the treatment of pancreatic diseases is a challenge for clinicians and researchers. Exosomes, carriers of intercellular communication signals, play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic diseases. Exosomes are involved in multiple stages of pancreatic disease development, including apoptosis, immune regulation, angiogenesis, cell migration, and cell proliferation. Thus, extensive alterations in the quantity and variety of exosomes may be indicative of abnormal biological behaviors of pancreatic cells. This phenomenon could be exploited for the development of exosomes as a new biomarker or target of new treatment strategies. Several studies have demonstrated the diagnostic and therapeutic effects of exosomes in cancer and inflammatory pancreatic diseases. Herein, we introduce the roles of exosomes in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic diseases and discuss directions for future research and perspectives of their applications.

Age-Related Changes in Body Composition and Bone Mineral Density and Their Relationship with the Duration of Diabetes and Glycaemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes

PURPOSE

To investigate age-related changes in body composition (BC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and analyse whether diabetes duration or glycaemic control affects these factors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We enrolled 1474 hospitalized T2D patients (817 males and 657 females; 45-85 years). BC and BMD were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Patients were stratified into age groups: 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, and ≥75 years. Continuous variables were compared using t-tests or one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and categorical variables were compared using chi-square tests. Effects of age, diabetes duration, and haemoglobin A_1C (HbA_1c) on BC and BMD were assessed with multiple linear regression models.

RESULTS

In T2D, in females, changes in fat mass index (FMI) were positively correlated with age, while changes in lean mass index (LMI) were unrelated to age. Changes in FMI or LMI in males were unrelated to age. For regional BC distribution, changes in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were positively correlated with age for both males and females, while changes in appendage lean mass (ALM) were negatively correlated with age. For BMD, changes in total BMD (TBMD) in males were not correlated with age, while changes in lumbar spine BMD (LBMD) were positively correlated with age, and femoral neck BMD (FNBMD) was negatively correlated with age. Changes in BMD in all parts of females were negatively correlated with age. In addition, changes in BC and BMD were unrelated to diabetes duration, and HbA_1c was mainly associated with decreases in lean mass but had little effect on other BC and BMD parameters.

CONCLUSION

In T2D, changes in BC and BMD were associated with age but not diabetes duration. A higher HbA_1c is associated with lower lean mass.