Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Is a Risk Factor for Skeletal Muscle Loss in the Course of Dietary Treatment for Patients with Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease

Objective This study assessed the impact of dietary therapy and reduced body weight on the loss of skeletal muscle in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Methods This was a single-center retrospective observational study. We enrolled 129 patients with MASLD who had undergone dietary therapy at our facility. We assessed skeletal muscle mass using a bioelectrical impedance analysis at the start of dietary treatment and 12 months after the first assessment. Variables related to muscle reduction were analyzed using a logistic regression model. Results One hundred and eighteen cases were analyzed, excluding those with missing data. In the muscle reduction group, there were more subjects with body weight reduction than in the control group (68% and 40%, respectively, p=0.002), and their body mass index (BMI) was decreased (-0.7 kg/m² and +0.3 kg/m², respectively, p=0.0003). There was a significant correlation between the changes in the BMI and muscle mass (R=0.48, p<0.0001). We standardized muscle mass change by dividing it by weight change to analyze the severe decrease in muscle mass compared to weight change. A logistic regression analysis revealed that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was an independent variable related to severe skeletal muscle loss (odds ratio, 2.69; 95% CI: 1.13-6.42, p=0.03). Conclusion Weight loss is associated with skeletal muscle loss during dietary treatment for MASLD. T2 DM is a risk factor for severe skeletal muscle loss.