Decreased muscle strength is associated with proinflammatory cytokines but not testosterone levels in men with diabetes

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare muscle strength in male subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) with and without low plasma testosterone levels and assess the relationship between muscle strength, testosterone levels, and proinflammatory cytokines. Males (75) aged between 18 and 65 years were divided into 3 groups: control group that did not have diabetes and had a normal testosterone plasma level (>250 ng/dL), DnormalTT group that had DM2 with normal testosterone levels, and the DlowTT group that had DM2 and low plasma testosterone levels (<250 ng/dL). The age (means±SD) of the groups was 48.4±10, 52.6±7, and 54.6±7 years, respectively. Isokinetic concentric and isometric torque of knee flexors and extensors were analyzed by an isokinetic dynamometer. Plasma testosterone and proinflammatory cytokine levels were determined by chemiluminescence and ELISA, respectively. Glycemic control was analyzed by glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C). In general, concentric and isometric torques were lower and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β plasma levels were higher in the groups with diabetes than in controls. There was no correlation between testosterone level and knee torques or proinflammatory cytokines. Concentric and isometric knee flexion and extension torque were negatively correlated with TNF-α, IL-6, and HbA1C. IL-6 and TNF-α were positively correlated with HbA1C. The results of this study demonstrated that muscle strength was not associated with testosterone levels in men with DM2. Low muscle strength was associated with inflammatory markers and poor glycemic control.

Inflammatory Muscle Diseases

“…Inflammatory Muscle Diseases DOI: http://dx.doi.org /10.5772/intechopen.86053 Studies suggest that TNF-α contributes to age-related muscle loss and that resistance exercise may attenuate this process by suppressing TNF-α expression in skeletal muscle [119]. Other findings demonstrate that decreased muscle strength in diabetic individuals is associated with elevated plasma concentrations of TNF-α and interleukin-6 (IL-6) [120]. Therefore, considering that oral inflammation, such as AP, may increase infiltration of macrophages in muscle tissue and this increase is related to the production of proinflammatory cytokines, it is possible to suggest that prevention of chronic inflammatory oral diseases contributes to the maintenance of muscle integrity.…”