Diabetes and Sarcopenic Obesity: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatments

Abstract

Sarcopenic obesity and diabetes are two increasing health problems worldwide, which both share many common risk factors, such as aging, and general obesity. The pathogenesis of sarcopenic obesity includes aging, physical inactivity, malnutrition, low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance, and hormonal changes. Nevertheless, there are two major reasons to cause diabetes: impaired insulin secretion and impaired insulin action. Furthermore, the individual diagnosis of obesity and sarcopenia should be combined to adequately define sarcopenic obesity. Also, the diagnosis of diabetes includes fasting plasma glucose test (FPG), 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), glycated hemoglobin (A1C), and random plasma glucose coupled with symptoms. Healthy diet and physical activity are beneficial to both sarcopenic obesity and diabetes, but there are only recommended drugs for diabetes. This review consolidates and discusses the latest research in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatments of diabetes and sarcopenic obesity.

A Narrative Review on Sarcopenia in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Prevalence and Associated Factors

“…The impact of gender on sarcopenia prevalence in T2DM differs among studies, similarly to the general population, in which some studies showed a higher prevalence among men [ 85 , 86 ], whereas others depicted a higher prevalence among women [ 87 , 88 ]. With regard to sarcopenic obesity, a higher prevalence in men than in women was observed [ 38 , 89 , 90 ], probably related to the muscle decline in men and a fat increase in women during aging [ 90 ], as well as to hormonal changes [ 36 ]. Interestingly, women with sarcopenic obesity were more likely to have higher blood glucose, whereas men were more likely to have osteoporosis and dyslipidaemia [ 90 ].…”

“…It is important to underline that the progressive increase in obesity worldwide configures a new public health problem: sarcopenic obesity, a condition in which sarcopenia and obesity are coexisting [ 35 ]. Sarcopenic obesity might be related to different factors such as aging, reduction in physical activity, malnutrition, sub-clinical inflammation, and hormonal changes [ 36 ]. Dramatically, the clinical consequences of sarcopenic obesity are much greater than sarcopenia alone; in fact, several studies reported that sarcopenic obesity is associated with higher fasting blood glucose, insulin resistance, blood pressure, plasma lipid abnormalities, T2DM, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality compared with sarcopenia or obesity alone [ 35 , 37 , 38 , 39 ].…”

PPAR-α Modulators as Current and Potential Cancer Treatments

“…Cancer is one of the worldwide health problems, and the well-established risk factors involving genetic susceptibility, ionizing radiation, infections, smoking, insobriety, unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and other carcinogenic environmental exposures, promote the prevalence of cancer (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). It is believed that more than 20 million new cancer cases annually are projected to occur by 2025.…”

Association of Body Composition with Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Chart Review Study

“…One study indicated a bidirectional relationship between T2DM and sarcopenia [ 19 ]. Furthermore, compared with sarcopenia or obesity alone, sarcopenic obesity has a much greater health impact and may have a synergistic effect with low-grade inflammation and thus exacerbate insulin resistance, further impairing glucose metabolism [ 20 ]. Therefore, this study analyzed the association of body composition with T2DM through a retrospective chart review.…”