MUSCLE MASS AND METABOLIC SYNDROME IN UNIVERSITY WORKERS

M.P. Villareal Mendoza¹, M.L. Ocampo Plazas², L.M. Sanchez Obando¹, J.F. Bonilla Briceño³, D. Mendoza Romero⁴, A.P. Riscanevo Peñaloza¹

Background: The International Diabetes Federation defines metabolic syndrome (MS) as the set of metabolic disorders consisting of centrally distributed obesity, decreased concentrations of cholesterol linked to high-density lipoproteins (HDL), increased triglyceride concentrations, increased blood pressure (BP) and hyperglycemia. It constitutes a highly prevalent clinical condition since it precedes the development of cardiometabolic diseases such as type II diabetes mellitus and obesity.
Properties of skeletal muscle have been described to promote glycemic and lipid control. However, no studies have been carried out to analyze the relationship between muscle mass and MS components (central obesity, decreased HDL, increased BP and hyperglycemia) in university workers.

Purpose: To establish the relationship between muscle mass and SM components in a group of university workers from the National University of Colombia.

Methods: The study was a cross sectional analytical study to explore the relationship between muscle mass and glucose and lipid profiles. Fasting blood glucose and lipid levels were determined through Colorimetric enzymatic tests using the ROCHE Cobas 8000® equipment and muscle mass was measured using four-point InBody 770® bioimpedanciometer. Pearson correlation coefficient and logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relative risk of MS from the relative muscle mass adjusted to the total body weight.  Bivariate and multivariate analysis techniques were adjusted for age and sex to control confounding bias.

Results: The sample included 100 adults with a mean age of 41±10,8, where 65% were women. Thirty-five of the participants had MS. The most prevalent components were low HDL cholesterol (32%), followed by high blood pressure (21%). MS was more frequent in subjects aged 50 years and older.  Relative muscle mass had a negative correlation with all components of the metabolic syndrome (blood pressure, HDL-C, triglycerides, and fasting blood glucose), but was only moderately and statistically significant with waist circumference for both sexes (p≤0.001 ) and with blood glucose levels in men (p≤0.009).The logistic regression identified that a low relative muscle mass increases the risk of MS 11 times compared to a high relative muscle mass (95% CI OR = 2.14-56.77).

Conclusion(s): Our study suggests a protective association between muscle mass and the components of MS. We determined that the lower the muscle mass, the higher the risk of MS. Further research is needed to establish threshold values of muscle mass and to determine the risk associated to various levels of muscle mass loss to MS.

Implications: The measurement of muscle mass in the workplace may assist in the early detection of metabolic syndrome. Physiotherapists and other health professionals should use muscle mass measurement for a comprehensive approach to control NCDs, reducing exposure to risk factors and encouraging participation in different health promotion programs.

Funding, acknowledgements: This study did not receive funding from any entity or organization

Keywords: Metabolic syndrome, muscle mass, workers

Topic: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) & risk factors

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Committee: Comite de Ética Facultad de Medicina

Ethics number: 010-129-19