ObjectiveSkeletal muscle fat content is one of the important contributors to insulin resistance (IR), but its diagnostic value remains unknown, especially in the Chinese population. Therefore, we aimed to analyze differences in skeletal muscle fat content and various functional MRI parameters between diabetic patients and control subjects to evaluate the early indicators of diabetes. In addition, we aimed to investigate the associations among skeletal muscle fat content, magnetic resonance parameters of skeletal muscle function and IR in type 2 diabetic patients and control subjects.MethodsWe enrolled 12 patients (age:29-38 years, BMI: 25-28 kg/m2) who were newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (intravenous plasma glucose concentration≥11.1mmol/l or fasting blood glucose concentration≥7.0mmol/l) together with 12 control subjects as the control group (age: 26-33 years, BMI: 21-28 kg/m2). Fasting blood samples were collected for the measurement of glucose, insulin, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (PBG2h), and glycated hemoglobin (HbAlc). The magnetic resonance scan of the lower extremity and abdomen was performed, which can evaluate visceral fat content as well as skeletal muscle metabolism and function through transverse relaxation times (T2), fraction anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values.ResultsWe found a significant difference in intermuscular fat (IMAT) between the diabetes group and the control group (p<0.05), the ratio of IMAT in thigh muscles of diabetes group was higher than that of control group. In the entire cohort, IMAT was positively correlated with HOMA-IR, HbAlc, T2, and FA, and the T2 value was correlated with HOMA-IR, PBG2h and HbAlc (p<0.05). There were also significant differences in T2 and FA values between the diabetes group and the control group (p<0.05). According to the ROC, assuming 8.85% of IMAT as the cutoff value, the sensitivity and specificity of IMAT were 100% and 83.3%, respectively. Assuming 39.25ms as the cutoff value, the sensitivity and specificity of T2 value were 66.7% and 91.7%, respectively. All the statistical analyses were adjusted for age, BMI and visceral fat content.ConclusionDeposition of IMAT in skeletal muscles seems to be an important determinant for IR in type 2 diabetes. The skeletal muscle IMAT value greater than 8.85% and the T2 value greater than 39.25ms are suggestive of IR.
