Sedentary behaviour and physical activity are associated with biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and low-grade inflammation-relevance for (pre)diabetes: The Maastricht Study

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and low-grade inflammation are important in the pathogenesis of CVD and can potentially be modified by physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Effects of physical activity on biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction may be especially prominent in type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

In the population-based Maastricht Study (n = 2363, 51.5% male, 28.3% type 2 diabetes, 15.1% prediabetes [defined as impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose]), we determined biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and low-grade inflammation, and combined z scores were calculated. Physical activity and sedentary behaviour were measured by activPAL. Linear regression analyses were used with adjustment for demographic, lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors.

RESULTS

The association between total, light, moderate-to-vigorous and vigorous intensity physical activity and sedentary time on the one hand and biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction on the other were generally significant and were consistently stronger in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes as compared with normal glucose metabolism status (p for interaction <0.05). Associations between physical activity and sedentary behaviour on the one hand and low-grade inflammation on the other were also significant and were similar in individuals with and without (pre)diabetes (p for interaction >0.05).

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Physical activity and sedentary behaviour are associated with biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and low-grade inflammation. For biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction, associations between physical activity and sedentary behaviour were consistently stronger in (pre)diabetes than in normal glucose metabolism. Whether increasing physical activity or decreasing sedentary time can positively influence biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction in individuals with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes requires further study.

Adverse differences in cardiometabolic risk factor levels between individuals with pre-diabetes and normal glucose metabolism are more pronounced in women than in men: the Maastricht Study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether adverse differences in levels of cardiovascular risk factors in women than men, already established when comparing individuals with and without diabetes, are also present before type 2 diabetes onset.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In a population-based cohort study of individuals aged 40-75 years (n=3410; 49% women, 29% type 2 diabetes (oversampled by design)), we estimated associations with cardiometabolic and lifestyle risk factors of (1) pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes (reference category: normal glucose metabolism) and (2) among non-diabetic individuals, of continuous levels of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Age-adjusted sex differences were analyzed using linear and logistic regression models with sex interaction terms.

RESULTS

In pre-diabetes, adverse differences in cardiometabolic risk factors were greater in women than men for systolic blood pressure (difference, 3.02 mm Hg; 95% CI:-0.26 to 6.30), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (difference, -0.10 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.18 to -0.02), total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio (difference, 0.22; 95% CI: -0.01 to 0.44), triglycerides (ratio: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.22), and inflammation markers Z-score (ratio: 1.18; 95% CI: 0.98 to 1.41). In type 2 diabetes, these sex differences were similar in direction, and of greater magnitude. Additionally, HbA1c among non-diabetic individuals was more strongly associated with several cardiometabolic risk factors in women than men: per one per cent point increase, systolic blood pressure (difference, 3.58 mm Hg; 95% CI: -0.03 to 7.19), diastolic blood pressure (difference, 2.10 mm Hg; 95% CI: -0.02 to 4.23), HDL cholesterol (difference, -0.09 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.19 to 0.00), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (difference, 0.26 mmol/L; 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.47). With regard to lifestyle risk factors, no consistent pattern was observed.

CONCLUSION

Our results are consistent with the concept that the more adverse changes in cardiometabolic risk factors in women (than men) arise as a continuous process before the onset of type 2 diabetes.

The association between diabetes status, HbA1c, diabetes duration, microvascular disease, and bone quality of the distal radius and tibia as measured with high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography-The Maastricht Study

In this small cross-sectional study of predominantly well-treated participants with relatively short-term type 2 diabetes duration, HbA1c > 7% (53 mmol/mol) was associated with lower cortical density and thickness and higher cortical porosity at the distal radius, lower trabecular thickness at the distal tibia, and higher trabecular number at both sites.

INTRODUCTION

To examine the association between diabetes status and volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), bone microarchitecture and strength of the distal radius and tibia as assessed with HR-pQCT. Additionally-in participants with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), to examine the association between HbA1c, diabetes duration, and microvascular disease (MVD) and bone parameters.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data from 410 (radius) and 198 (tibia) participants of The Maastricht Study (mean age 58 year, 51% female). Diabetes status (normal glucose metabolism, prediabetes, or T2DM) was based on an oral glucose tolerance test and medication history.

RESULTS

After full adjustment, prediabetes and T2DM were not associated with vBMD, bone microarchitecture, and strength of the radius and tibia, except for lower trabecular number (Tb.N) of the tibia (- 4%) in prediabetes and smaller cross-sectional area of the tibia (- 7%) in T2DM. In T2DM, HbA1c > 7% was associated with lower cortical vBMD (- 5%), cortical thickness (- 16%), higher cortical porosity (+ 20%) and Tb.N (+ 9%) of the radius, and higher Tb.N (+ 9%) and lower trabecular thickness (- 13%) of the tibia. Diabetes duration > 5 years was associated with higher Tb.N (+ 6%) of the radius. The presence of MVD was not associated with any bone parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study with predominantly well-treated T2DM participants with relatively short-term diabetes duration, inadequate blood glucose control was negatively associated with cortical bone measures of the radius. In contrast, trabecular number was increased at both sites. Studies of larger sample size are warranted for more detailed investigations of bone density and bone quality in patients with T2DM.