Physical fitness in patients with diabetic dyslipidemia: Diabetes or dyslipidemia to blame?

Abstract

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Diabetic dyslipidemia is common in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), as a result of the atherogenic lipid profile seen due to deficiency in insulin hormone. Metabolic disorders such as poor glycemic control, endothelial dysfunction and increased free fatty acids may affect health-related physical fitness parameters in diabetic dyslipidemia. Purpose The aim of our study is to examine health-related physical fitness parameters in T2DM patients with and without dyslipidemia. Methods 65 T2DM patients (mean age=51.9±6.5/years, F:48, M:17) diagnosed with diabetic dyslipidemia (low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) ≥ 100 mg/dL) and 36 T2DM patients (mean age=52.8±6.4/years, F:25, M:11) without dyslipidemia were included in the study. All patients with diabetic dyslipidemia were on statin treatment. Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose (FBG), high-density (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), triglyceride, and total cholesterol were noted. Body composition (TANITA), right and left quadriceps muscle strength (J-Tech Commander Muscle Tester), grip strength for dominant hand (Jamar dynamometer), functional capacity (6 Minute Walk Test) and physical activity level (pedometer, Omron HJ 321E Walking Style) were assessed. Results HbA1c, FBG, body composition, muscle strength, functional capacity and physical activity levels of the groups were all similar in T2DM patients with or without dyslipidemia (p>0.05) (Table 1). LDL-C and triglyceride were significantly higher in T2DM patients with dyslipidemia (p<0.0001). There was a significant negative correlation between LDL-C and right (r=-0.349, p=0.004) and left quadriceps (r=-0.354, p=0.004) muscle strength in T2DM patients with dyslipidemia. Conclusions In this study, it was observed that dyslipidemia did not have a distinctive effect on health-related physical fitness parameters in individuals with T2DM. It was also observed that LDL-C was associated with lower extremity muscle strength in diabetic dyslipidemia.