Having a large muscle mass reduces the risk of developing insulin resistance and diabetes , according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism .
Previous research showed that low muscle mass was a risk factor for insulin resistance, but until now, no study has examined whether increased muscle mass, regardless of obesity levels, improved glucose regulation in the blood.
To reach these conclusions, Preethi Srikanthan and her team from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), in the United States, analyzed the data of 13,664 individuals over 20 years of age. The analyzes revealed that a 10 percent increase in the skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) implied a 12 percent reduction in the incidence of pre-diabetes, a condition characterized by higher-than-normal blood glucose levels. In addition, the more muscular a subject developed, the lower his insulin resistance.
The researchers say that, after the study, there is no doubt that to maintain a healthy metabolism it is not enough to diet and lose weight , but it is essential to exercise and strengthen muscles.
