Muscle Quality Index in Morbidly Obesity Patients Related to Metabolic Syndrome Markers and Cardiorespiratory Fitness

Abstract

Background: Muscle quality index (MQI) is an emerging health indicator obtained by dividing handgrip strength by body mass index (BMI) that needs to be studied in morbidly obese patients (defined by BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2). Objective: To determine the association between MQI, metabolic syndrome (MetS) markers, and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and as a second objective to determine the potential mediation role of MQI in the relationship between abdominal obesity and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in this sample. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 86 severely/morbidly obese patients (age = 41.1 ± 11.9 y, nine men). MQI, metabolic syndrome markers, CRF, and anthropometric parameters were measured. Two groups were developed according to MQI; High-MQI (n = 41) and Low-MQI (n = 45). Results: The Low-MQI group reported higher abdominal obesity (High-MQI: 0.7 ± 0.1 vs. Low-MQI: 0.8 ± 0.1 WC/height; p = 0.011), SBP (High-MQI: 133.0 ± 17.5 vs. Low-MQI: 140.1 ± 15.1 mmHg; p = 0.048), and lower CRF (High-MQI; 26.3 ± 5.9 vs. Low-MQI; 22.4 ± 6.1 mL/kg/min, p = 0.003) than the High-MQI group. Waist-to-height ratio (β: −0.07, p = 0.011), SBP (β: −18.47, p = 0.001), and CRF (β: 5.21, p = 0.011) were linked to MQI. In a mediation model, the indirect effect confirms that MQI is a partial mediator of the association between abdominal obesity with SBP. Conclusions: MQI in morbidly obesity patients reported an inverse association with MetS markers and a positive association with CRF (VO2max). It mediates the relationship between abdominal obesity and SBP.

Muscle Quality Index is inversely associated with psychosocial variables among Chilean adolescents

“…In the present investigation, there was an inverse relationship between MQI and abdominal obesity in adolescents ( p < 0.001). These results are in agreement with a recent study by Camaño-Navarrete et al [ 49 ], who showed that subjects with a low MQI had greater abdominal obesity ( p = 0.011) than the group with a high MQI. Likewise, these authors confirmed that the MQI is a partial mediator of the association between abdominal obesity and other variables, such as systolic blood pressure.…”

Role of Incretins in Muscle Functionality, Metabolism, and Body Composition in Breast Cancer: A Metabolic Approach to Understanding This Pathology

“…The altered muscle function in patients with cancer and chronic disease often leads to falls, disability, and functional impairment, increasing the risk of a poor outcome and death [33]. We calculated the muscle quality index (MQI) by measuring muscle strength using a handgrip dynamometer and normalizing it with either the body mass index or appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMMI) [7].…”

“…Although the definition of sarcopenia varies depending on each author [38], it generally refers to the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function that occurs secondarily to factors such as chronic disease and older age. However, in patients with obesity or metabolic syndrome, for example, biochemical and molecular changes can affect the functionality of muscle fibers even if the person maintains their muscle mass, as Caamaño et al described [7].…”

“…The highest result among the tests was recorded. The obtained handgrip strength was divided by the BMI, SMMI, and FMI to obtain the muscle quality index concerning the mentioned anthropometric indexes, which are expressed in kg/BMI, kg/SMMI, and kg/FMI, respectively [7]. To establish normal values and cutoffs for the different variants of the muscle quality index, we used the mean and standard deviation of each index as observed in healthy-lean women.…”

“…A poorly studied issue in cancer patients and their nutritional state is the quantity and quality of muscle mass in connection with the presence of sarcopenia and tumor cachexia in cancers with a high metabolic rate; in parallel, some studies based on body composition and its functional characteristics have begun to describe the role of factors such as obesity, muscle mass, and inflammatory serum markers in muscle functionality in patients with obesity-related chronic conditions [7]. To the authors' knowledge, the relationship among the previously mentioned aspects has not been described in breast cancer patients.…”