A new study suggests that having a high muscle strength is associated with a 44 per cent reduced risk of developing diabetes, regardless of genetic predisposition.
Analysing data of over 1.4 lakh people from the UK Biobank, researchers from the University of Hong Kong found evidence of an interaction between muscle strength and genetic vulnerability to type 2 diabetes, in which the body is unable to regulate blood sugar.
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Researchers from the University of Hong Kong discovered evidence of a connection between muscle strength and genetic susceptibility to type 2 diabetes, a condition in which the body is unable to control the blood sugar, after analysing data from the UK Biobank that included over 1.4 lakh individuals. This suggests that muscle strength could help modify the effects of genetic risk, they said.
The findings highlight the importance of maintaining or improving muscle strength as a key strategy for preventing diabetes, the researchers said.
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In line with the research findings, the public health guidelines in Hong Kong recommend muscle-strengthening activities at moderate or greater intensity on at least two days of a week, along with 150-300 minutes per week of aerobic physical activity, for “additional health benefits”.
While muscle strength has been previously related with a lower risk of cardiometabolic diseases, including diabetes, its role in lowering risk among those at a higher genetic risk of such disorders has been unclear, the researchers said.
The study followed the participants over a period of more than seven years, during which 4,743 new cases of diabetes were identified. ‘Grip strength’ of an individual was used in the research analysis.
