Insulin Resistance and Muscle Strength in Older Persons

• Published in: The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences Vol. 60; no. 10; pp. 1278 - 1282
• Main Authors: Abbatecola, Angela M., Ferrucci, Luigi, Ceda, GianPaolo, Russo, Cosimo R., Lauretani, Fulvio, Bandinelli, Stefania, Barbieri, Michelangela, Valenti, Giorgio, Paolisso, Giuseppe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oxford University Press 01-10-2005
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Calcium - blood; Female; Gender differences; Geriatrics; Hand Strength - physiology; Humans; Insulin; Insulin resistance; Insulin Resistance - physiology; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - analysis; Male; Middle Aged; Muscles - physiology; Muscular system; Myoglobin - blood; Older people; Serum Albumin - analysis
• ISSN: 1079-5006; 1758-535X
• DOI: 10.1093/gerona/60.10.1278

Background. The functional consequences of an age-related insulin resistance (IR) state on muscle functioning are unknown. Because insulin is needed for adequate muscle function, an age-related insulin-resistant state may also be a determining factor. We evaluated the relationship between IR and handgrip muscle strength in men and women from a large population-based study (n = 968). Methods. The degree of IR was evaluated by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) and muscle strength was assessed using handgrip. Results. Simple sex-stratified correlations demonstrated that, in men, body mass index-adjusted handgrip strength correlated positively with physical activity (r = 0.321; p <.001), muscle area (r = 0.420; p <.001), muscle density (r = 0.263; p =.001), plasma albumin (r = 0.156; p =.001), insulin-like growth factor-1 (r = 0.258; p <.001), calcium (r = 0.140; p =.006), and testosterone (r = 0.325; p <.001) concentrations, whereas a negative association was found for age (r = −0.659; p <.001) and myoglobin plasma levels (r = −0.164; p =.001). In women, body mass index-adjusted handgrip strength correlated positively with physical activity (r = 0.280; p <.001), muscle area (r = 0.306; p <.001), muscle density (r = 0.341; p =.001), plasma albumin (r = 0.140; p =.001), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (r = 0.300; p <.001), whereas a negative association was found for age (r = −0.563; p <.001), myoglobin levels (r = −0.164; p =.001), and IR (r = −0.130; p =.04). Conclusions. Sex-stratified analyses adjusted for multiple confounders showed that the relationship between IR and handgrip strength was found significant in women, whereas it was negligible and not significant in men.