Loss of skeletal muscle mass and its predictors in type 2 diabetes patients under a multifaceted treatment approach.

BACKGROUND: Weight loss, which is an effective method for reducing visceral fat, may cause a concomitant loss of skeletal muscle mass. The aim of this study was to elucidate the changes in visceral fat and skeletal muscle mass in response to diabetes treatment including weight control. METHODS: For 6 months we observed the changes in the body compositions of 72 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent multifaceted treatment including educational hospitalization. Visceral fat area (VFA) and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) were measured using a bioelectrical impedance method and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, respectively. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, VFA reduced significantly whereas the average ASM did not change. Changes in ASM were strongly positively associated with changes in body weight (r = 0.50). Additionally, in an analysis of covariance, an above-median BMI (27 kg/m2) and above-median VFA (110 cm2) at baseline were found to be independent predictors of ASM reduction prevention. Of the 55 patients who lost weight, those who had a baseline VFA of ≥110 cm2 had significantly greater reductions in VFA than those with a baseline VFA of <110 cm2 (p < 0.01). ASM reduced significantly in patients with a VFA of <110 cm2 (p < 0.01), but not in those with a VFA of ≥110 cm2 (p = 0.98). CONCLUSIONS: Baseline accumulation of visceral fat may predict a preferential reduction of visceral fat rather than skeletal muscle during weight control programs in type 2 diabetes patients.

Retrograde pyelonephritis and lumbar spondylitis as a result of Salmonella typhi in a type 2 diabetes patient with neurogenic bladder.

We present a case of a 62-year-old diabetic woman with acute pyelonephritis and spondylitis caused by Salmonella typhi. She was admitted to Tokyo Medical Dental University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, because of unconsciousness and was diagnosed with sepsis by retrograde pyelonephritis as a result of Salmonella typhi. Antibiotics treatment was immediately started; however, she subsequently developed lumbar spondylitis, and long-term conservative treatment with antibiotics and a fixing device were required. This is the first report of a diabetic patient who developed retrograde urinary tract infection with Salmonella typhi, followed by sepsis and spondylitis. The infection could be a result of diabetic neuropathy, presenting neurogenic bladder and hydronephrosis. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics and became asymptomatic with normal inflammatory marker levels, and no clinical sign of recurrence was observed in the kidney and spine at 4 months.

Increased visceral adiposity with normal weight is associated with the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: To investigate the impact of increased visceral adiposity with normal weight (OB[-]VA[+]) on the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 140 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes (mean age 65 ± 11 year; 44.6% women). Visceral fat area (VFA; cm(2) ) and liver attenuation index (LAI) were assessed by abdominal computed tomography. The patients were divided into four groups by VFA and body mass index (BMI; kg/m(2) ) as follows: BMI <25 kg/m(2) and VFA <100 cm(2) (OB[-]VA[-]), BMI ≥25 kg/m(2) and VFA <100 cm(2) (OB[+]VA[-]), BMI <25 kg/m(2) and VFA ≥100 cm(2) (OB[-]VA[+]), and BMI ≥25 kg/m(2) and VFA ≥100 cm(2) (OB[+]VA[+]). Multivariate linear regression and logistic regression analysis were carried out to determine the impact of OB(-)VA(+) on LAI. RESULTS: In the present study, 25.0% were OB(-)VA(+) patients, where the LAI levels were lower (1.09 ± 0.22) than those in OB(-)VA(-) patients (1.23 ± 0.15), and were equivalent to those in OB(+)VA(+) patients (1.03 ± 0.26). In multivariate linear regression analysis, OB(-)VA(+) was independently associated with LAI (standardized ß-0.212, P = 0.014). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, OB(-)VA(+) was a significant predictor of LAI <0.9 (odds ratio 5.88, 95% confidence interval 1.03-33.52, P = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides evidence that increased visceral adiposity with normal weight is a strong predictor for the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Clinical relevance of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) as a simultaneous evaluation of fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Whole body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) can simultaneously measure both regional fat and non-fat mass. Android-to-gynoid (A/G) ratio measured by DXA has been reported to be associated with cardiovascular risks and visceral adiposity; however, little is known regarding its relationship with fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis among patients with diabetes. This study was designed to investigate the association of android and gynoid fat mass measured by DXA with fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 259 patients with type 2 diabetes (mean age 64 ± 13 years; 40.2 % female). Android and gynoid fat mass (kg) were measured by DXA. Skeletal muscle index (SMI) was calculated as appendicular non-fat mass (kg) divided by height (m(2)). Visceral fat area (VFA, cm(2)), subcutaneous fat area (SFA, cm(2)), and liver attenuation index (LAI) were assessed by abdominal computed tomography. Intima media thickness (IMT, mm) in common carotid arteries was determined by carotid ultrasonography. RESULTS: A/G ratio was significantly correlated with VFA (r = 0.72, p < 0.001), SFA (r = 0.32, p < 0.001) and LAI (r = -0.26, p < 0.001). A/G ratio (standardized ß -0.223, p = 0.002) as well as VFA (standardized ß -0.226, p = 0.001) were significantly associated with LAI in the univariate model. A/G ratio remained to be significantly associated with LAI (standardized ß -0.224, p = 0.005) after adjusting for covariates including body mass index and transaminases. Among patients with low SMI (SMI < 7.0 in male and < 5.4 in female), A/G ratio was significantly associated with carotid IMT in the multivariate model (standardized ß 0.408, p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: DXA can be used to simultaneously estimate the risks for both fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Indirect measure of visceral adiposity 'A Body Shape Index' (ABSI) is associated with arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Among indirect measures of visceral adiposity, A Body Shape Index (ABSI), which is defined as waist circumference (WC)/(body mass index (BMI)(2/3)×height(1/2)), is unique in that ABSI is positively correlated with visceral adiposity and is supposed to be independent of BMI. ABSI has been also shown to be linearly and positively associated with visceral fat mass and all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population. It is, however, uncertain whether ABSI could be associated with arterial stiffness in patients with diabetes. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 607 patients with type 2 diabetes (mean age 64±12 years; 40.0% female). Visceral fat area (VFA, cm(2)) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA, cm(2)) were assessed with a dual-impedance analyzer. In order to estimate the risk for CVD, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV, cm) was used for the assessment of arterial stiffness. RESULTS: ABSI was significantly and positively correlated with VFA (r=0.138, p=0.001) and negatively associated with BMI (r=-0.085, p=0.037). The correlation of z-score for ABSI with VFA remained significant (r=0.170, p<0.001) but not with BMI (r=0.009, p=0.820). ABSI (standardized ß 0.095, p=0.043) but not WC (standardized ß -0.060, p=0.200) was significantly and positively correlated with baPWV in the multivariate model including BMI as a covariate. CONCLUSIONS: ABSI appears to reflect visceral adiposity independently of BMI and to be a substantial marker of arterial stiffening in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Is visceral adiposity a modifier for the impact of blood pressure on arterial stiffness and albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes?

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate whether visceral adiposity could modify the impact of blood pressure on arterial stiffness and albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: This cross-sectional study examines the interaction of visceral adiposity with increased blood pressure on arterial stiffness and albuminuria. 638 patients with type 2 diabetes (mean age 64 ± 12 years; 40 % female) were enrolled. Visceral fat area (VFA, cm(2)) was assessed by a dual-impedance analyzer, whereby patients were divided into those with VFA < 100 (N = 341) and those with VFA ≥ 100 (N = 297). Albuminuria was measured in a single 24-h urine collection (UAE, mg/day) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV, cm/s) was used for the assessment of arterial stiffening. Linear regression analyses were used to investigate the association of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and VFA with UAE and baPWV. RESULTS: Patients with VFA ≥ 100 were significantly younger, had higher SBP, HbA1c, triglycerides, UAE, alanine aminotransferase, C-reactive protein and lower high-density lipoprotein and shorter duration of diabetes than those with VFA < 100. SBP was significantly and almost equivalently associated with ba-PWV both in VFA < 100 (standardized ß 0.224, p = 0.001) and VFA ≥ 100 (standardized ß 0.196, p = 0.004) patients in the multivariate regression analysis adjusting for covariates including age, gender, HbA1c, diabetic complications and the use of insulin and anti-hypertensive agents. By contrast, the association of SBP with UAE was stronger in patients with VFA ≥ 100 (standardized ß 0.263, p = 0.001) than that in patients with VFA < 100 (standardized ß 0.140, p = 0.080) in the multivariate regression model. In the whole cohort, the significant interaction between SBP and VFA on UAE (standardized ß 0.172, p = 0.040) but not on ba-PWV (standardized ß -0.008, p = 0.916) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of increased blood pressure on arterial stiffness is almost similar in type 2 diabetic patients with both low and high visceral adiposity, while its association with albuminuria is stronger in the latter.

High visceral fat with low subcutaneous fat accumulation as a determinant of atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal visceral obesity has been reported to be associated with cardiovascular risks than body mass index, waist circumference, and abdominal subcutaneous fat. On the other hand, there is evidence that subcutaneous fat has a beneficial role against cardio-metabolic risks such as diabetes or dyslipidemia. However, little is known regarding the association between high visceral fat with low subcutaneous fat accumulation and the risk for atherosclerosis. METHODS: This study was designed to elucidate whether high visceral fat with low subcutaneous fat accumulation enhances the risk for atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes. This is a cross-sectional study of 148 patients with type 2 diabetes (mean age 65 ± 12 years; 44.5% female). Visceral fat area (VFA, cm(2)) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA, cm(2)) were assessed by abdominal computed tomography. Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT, mm) measured by ultrasonography was used for the assessment of atherosclerosis. Patients were divided into four groups: SFA < 100 cm(2) and VFA < 100 cm(2) [S(-)V(-)], SFA ≥ 100 cm(2) and VFA < 100 cm(2) [S(+)V(-)], SFA < 100 cm(2) and VFA ≥ 100 cm(2) [S(-)V(+)], and SFA ≥ 100 cm(2) and VFA ≥ 100 cm(2) [S(+)V(+)]. Linear regression analysis with a stepwise procedure was used for the statistical analyses. RESULTS: Among the patients examined, 16.3% were S(-)V(+). Mean (95 % confidence interval) of CIMT adjusting for age and gender were 0.80 (0.69-0.91), 0.86 (0.72-1.01), 1.28 (1.11-1.44) and 0.83 (0.77-0.88) in patients with S(-)V(-), S(+)V(-), S(-)V(+) and S(+)V(+), respectively (p < 0.001). The S(-)V(+) patients exhibited significantly older than S(-)V(-) patients and those with S(+)V(+) and had a highest VFA-SFA ratio (V/S ratio) among the four groups. S(-)V(+) patients were male predominant (100% male), and S(+)V(-) patients showed female predominance (82% female). In multivariate linear regression analysis (Adjusted R(2) = 0.549), S(-)V(+) was significantly associated with CIMT (Standardized ß 0.423, p < 0.001). Notably, S(+)V(+) was inversely associated with CIMT in the multivariate model. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that high visceral fat with low subcutaneous fat accumulation is an important determinant of carotid atherosclerosis and high subcutaneous fat could be protective against atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Impact of increased visceral adiposity with normal weight on the progression of arterial stiffness in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Normal-weight abdominal obesity has been reported to be associated with poor mortality. We aimed to investigate the impact of increased visceral adiposity with normal weight (OB(-)VA(+)) on the progression of arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 414 patients with type 2 diabetes (mean age 64±12 years; 40.3% female). Visceral fat area (VFA, cm(2)) was measured by a dual bioelectrical impedance analyzer. Arterial stiffness was assessed by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV, cm/s). Patients were divided into four groups by VFA and body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)) as the following: BMI<25 kg/m(2) and VFA<100 cm(2) (obesity (OB)(-)visceral adiposity (VA)(-)), BMI≥25 kg/m(2) and VFA<100 cm(2) (OB(+)VA(-)), BMI<25 kg/m(2) and VFA≥100 cm(2) (OB(-)VA(+)), and BMI≥25 kg/m(2) and VFA≥100 cm(2) (OB(+)VA(+)). Multivariate linear regression analysis was done to determine the impact of OB(-)VA(+) on arterial stiffness. RESULTS: Among the patients, 7.2% were OB(-)VA(+) with higher baPWV levels (1956±444 cm/s) than those with OB(+)VA(-) (1671±416 cm/s, p=0.014), those with OB(+)VA(+) (1744±317 cm/s, p=0.048), and those with OB(-)VA(-) (1620±397 cm/s, p=0.024). In multivariate linear regression analysis, OB(-)VA(+) remained independently associated with baPWV (standardized ß 0.184, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence for the burden of arterial stiffness in OB(-)VA(+) patients with type 2 diabetes; therefore, evaluation of visceral adiposity is of clinical relevance for the better management of non-obese individuals as well as obese populations.