Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors attenuates the decline of skeletal muscle mass in patients with type 2 diabetes

Background Activation of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 has been reported to be associated with impairment of insulin signalling in skeletal muscle, presumably leading to loss of muscle function. This study was aimed to investigate whether the use of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4i) could attenuate the progressive loss of muscle mass in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods A total 105 patients with type 2 diabetes (mean age 62 ± 12 years; 39% female) were studied in this retrospective observational study. To reduce the bias due to confounding variables, propensity-score matching analysis was performed. Change in skeletal muscle index measured by the whole body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at 1-year follow-up was evaluated. One-year changes in visceral and subcutaneous fat area and liver attenuation index were also determined by abdominal computed tomography. Results Overall, 37 of 105 (35.2%) patients were treated with DPP4i. The estimated change in skeletal muscle index in patients with DPP4i was significantly higher than that in patients without (0.05 ± 0.06 vs −0.10 ± 0.04 kg, P = .046). In a propensity-matched population (N = 48), the same finding was observed (0.04 ± 0.03 in DPP4i versus −0.12 ± 0.03 kg in non-DPP4i, P = .033). There were no significant differences in changes of visceral and subcutaneous fat area and liver attenuation index between patients with DPP4i and those without. Conclusions Our data suggest the potential of DPP4i to prevent the progressive loss of muscle mass with ageing in patients with type 2 diabetes.