A recent study by the University of Hong Kong reveals that high muscle strength significantly reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, regardless of genetic predisposition.
Key Points at a Glance
- High muscle strength linked to over 40% reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.
- Protective effect observed across all levels of genetic susceptibility.
- Study utilized data from over 140,000 individuals in the UK Biobank.
- Grip strength used as a measure of overall muscle strength.
- Findings suggest muscle strength can offset genetic risk factors.
In a groundbreaking study, researchers from the University of Hong Kong’s School of Public Health have discovered that individuals with higher muscle strength have a significantly lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D), regardless of their genetic susceptibility. The study, published in BMC Medicine, analyzed data from 141,848 white British participants without baseline T2D, sourced from the UK Biobank—a large-scale biomedical database and research resource containing in-depth genetic and health information.
The researchers assessed muscle strength using grip strength measurements, a widely recognized proxy for overall muscle strength. Genetic risk for T2D was estimated based on 138 known genetic variants associated with the disease. Over a follow-up period exceeding seven years, 4,743 participants developed T2D. The analysis revealed that individuals with high muscle strength had a 44% lower relative risk of developing T2D compared to those with low muscle strength, even after adjusting for genetic risk and other potential confounding factors.
Importantly, the study found that the protective effect of high muscle strength was consistent across all levels of genetic risk. This suggests that maintaining or improving muscle strength could be an effective strategy for T2D prevention, even among individuals with a high genetic predisposition to the disease. Furthermore, the researchers observed that individuals with high genetic risk but also high muscle strength had a lower absolute risk of developing T2D than those with low or medium genetic risk but low muscle strength.
These findings underscore the significant role of muscle strength in mitigating the risk of T2D and highlight the potential of strength training and other muscle-strengthening activities as preventive measures. Given the global prevalence of T2D and its associated health complications, incorporating muscle-strengthening exercises into public health strategies could have substantial benefits. The study advocates for the inclusion of muscle strength assessments in routine health evaluations and encourages individuals to engage in activities that enhance muscular fitness as a means to reduce T2D risk.
In conclusion, the HKU study provides compelling evidence that muscle strength is a modifiable factor that can significantly lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, offering a proactive approach to disease prevention that transcends genetic predisposition. This research adds to the growing body of literature emphasizing the importance of physical fitness in chronic disease prevention and supports the promotion of strength-building activities as a public health priority.
Source: The University of Hong Kong
