Objective To analyze the relationship between Appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) and bone metabolism markers, bone mineral density (BMD) in male patients with type 2 diabetes over 50 years old. Methods A total of 398 male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were 50 years of age or older and were admitted to the Department of Endocrinology at the First Hospital of Lanzhou University between January 2022 and April 2023 were included in the study, and were categorized into a reduced muscle mass group (n=181) and a normal muscle mass group (n=217) based on their ASMI levels. A comparison was made between the serum bone metabolism markers osteocalcin (OC), β-collagen specific sequence (Type I collagen carboxyl-terminal peptide β, β-CTX), and Type I collagen amino-terminal peptide (PINP) levels of patients in two groups. Additionally, the BMD levels of the femoral neck, hip, lumbar vertebrae 1-4 (L1-4) were compared. Pearson/Spearman correlation and logistic regression were used to analyze correlations between ASMI and BMD. Results The study found a significantly higher prevalence of osteopenia/osteoporosis in the group with reduced muscle mass compared to the group with normal muscle mass (19 [8.8%] vs. 36 [19.9%], P=0.001). Additionally, the group with reduced muscle mass exhibited significantly lower BMD levels in the femoral neck, hip and L1-4 areas (P<0.05). Femoral neck, hip, L1-4 BMD levels were negatively correlated with OC, PIPN, and β-CTx (P < 0.05) and positively correlated with ASMI (P < 0.05). After adjusting for confounders, ASMI was found to be independently and negatively associated with the risk of developing osteopenia/osteoporosis [OR=0.540,95%CI(0.306, 0.953), P<0.05], while β-CTx was independently and positively associated with the risk of developing osteopenia/osteoporosis [OR=1.002, 95% CI (1.000, 1.004), P<0.05]. Conclusions In male T2DM patients over 50 years old,a reduction in skeletal muscle mass and elevated levels of β-CTx are identified as significantly associated with the development of osteopenia /osteoporosis. |