title: Body composition in adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: effects of metformin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to measure the body composition in adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus and to explore the effect of metformin therapy on the various components of body composition, insulin sensitivity, and glucose homeostasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an observational study consisted of 51 newly diagnosed people with type 2 diabetes on 1000 mg metformin twice daily for 6 months. The body composition of each subject was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at enrollment and 24 weeks after metformin mono-therapy. Sarcopenia was defined and compared based on the ratio of appendicular skeletal muscle and height squared, skeletal muscle index and residual methods. Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance and Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index were used for estimating insulin sensitivity. The level of physical activity was assessed using self-administered International physical Activity questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty one subjects (80.4%) completed the study. The mean age of the participants was 52.67 ± 10.43 years. Metformin treatment was associated with a significant decrease in total fat mass (-1.6 kg, P = 0.000). By week 24, the lean to fat ratio increased (P = 0.04) with men showing greater significant changes. Twenty percent of the female participants were detected to have sarcopenia. In addition, there was a significant improvement of glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metformin therapy results in significant improvement in body composition and insulin sensitivity of adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, sarcopenia begins in women with diabetes much earlier than expected as an age related phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Research Center, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Firouzgar alley, Valadi St., Behafarin St., Karimkhan Ave., Vali-asr Sq., Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Rokhsareh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aghili
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Research Center, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Firouzgar alley, Valadi St., Behafarin St., Karimkhan Ave., Vali-asr Sq., Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malek
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Research Center, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Firouzgar alley, Valadi St., Behafarin St., Karimkhan Ave., Vali-asr Sq., Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ameneh Ebrahim
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Valojerdi
authors.affiliation: Lolagar hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Banazadeh
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Research Center, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Firouzgar alley, Valadi St., Behafarin St., Karimkhan Ave., Vali-asr Sq., Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Laily
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Najafi
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Research Center, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Firouzgar alley, Valadi St., Behafarin St., Karimkhan Ave., Vali-asr Sq., Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ebrahim
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Khamseh
keywords: Diabetes Mellitus; Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry; Insulin Resistance; Insulin Sensitivity; Sarcopenia; Type 2