Effect of Decreased Lower Limb Muscle Mass on the Development of Diabetes Mellitus in Older Adults

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K10534
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 58030:Hygiene and public health-related: excluding laboratory approach
• Research Institution: Hokkaido Chitose College of Rehabilitation
• Principal Investigator: Seko Toshiaki 北海道千歳リハビリテーション大学, 健康科学部, 教授 (80808147)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 大西 浩文 札幌医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (20359996)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 予防 / 高齢者 / サルコペニア / インスリン抵抗性 / 糖尿病

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A longitudinal study was conducted to determine whether decreased lower limb muscle mass is a risk factor for the development of insulin resistance (IR), a precursor to diabetes, in non-diabetic older adults, including the effect of obesity. Two hundred and four residents of the town of Sobetsu, Hokkaido, Japan, were followed for up to six years.The results indicated that obesity alone was not a risk factor for IR development. Rather, a decrease in lower limb muscle mass was a significant risk factor for IR development, regardless of the presence or absence of obesity. In contrast, sarcopenia indices such as upper limb muscle mass, grip strength, and knee extension strength were not associated with IR development.
The loss of lower limb muscle mass is a significant risk factor for the development of IR independently of obesity in non-diabetic older adults. Lower limb muscle mass may be a novel target for interventions aimed at preventing diabetes in older adults.

Free Research Field

予防医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高齢者における下肢筋量減少は，肥満の有無に関わらずIR進展のリスクとなることが示唆され、非肥満でも筋量を測定することで糖尿病ハイリスク者を抽出できる可能性がある。また、高齢者糖尿病予防に向けた効率的な予防運動プログラムの策定に繋がることが期待できる。