Bigger muscles could lower diabetes risk

Mon, 01 Aug 2011
A new study in the United States has revealed that having more muscle mass can lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, it has emerged. Although other studies had suggested less body fat could lower the chances of developing diabetes, this study by scientists at UCLA found that having more muscle mass was linked to a reduced risk of diabetes.

The research, which was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, involved more than 13,000 adults focused on the potential correlation between greater levels of muscle mass and lower levels of insulin resistance, as insulin resistance is seen as leading to diabetes . It was found that for each 10 per cent rise in skeletal muscle index, there was an 11 per cent decrease in insulin resistance, as well as a 12 per cent reduction in pre-diabetes .

The findings indicate that those people at risk from diabetes should also work on improving fitness and building up their muscles, rather than just trying to lose weight.

However, since some muscle building activities were examined, the findings do not provide definite proof that more muscles reduces the risk for diabetes, only that extra fat increases the risk of diabetes and more muscle reduces the risk.

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