Potential benefits of nutritional supplementation in diabetic sarcopenia

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus, one of the metabolic diseases, is a major risk factor for impaired muscle function leading to muscle loss, weakness, and frailty. A lot of studies have suggested that the biological mechanisms which contribute to diabetic sarcopenia, including insulin resistance, altered energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Although different nutritional interventions for diabetic sarcopenia have not been clearly defined, there is no doubt that nutrition plays an essential role in the prevention or delay of muscle loss and maintenance of physical function. In this review, we discuss the recent literature on biological pathways for diabetic sarcopenia and potent nutrients used for attenuating diabetic sarcopenia: dietary proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, vitamin E, and other anti-oxidants for future research.