COVID-19 lockdown weakens metabolism in people with glucose intolerance

In Japan, the declaration of a state of emergency (DSE) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic led to negative metabolic consequences in people with glucose intolerance, such as lowered skeletal muscle and increased body weight and body fat, a recent study has found.

The study included 415 outpatients with glucose intolerance, for whom longitudinal body composition information was available. In addition, researchers assessed participants’ dietary patterns and laboratory profile, as well as the longitudinal changes in these from before to after the DSE.

In 2019, before pandemic-related lockdowns, participants had a mean glycated haemoglobin level of 7.33 percent, which only slightly increased to 7.38 percent during the state of emergency. The change value of 0.06 percent was not statistically significant (p=0.197).

In contrast, body weight jumped significantly, from an average of 70.0 kg before the pandemic to 70.3 kg after the DSE (p=0.034). The same was true for body mass index (26.1 to 26.2 kg/m²; p=0.018).

Conversely, skeletal muscle mass, as measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis, dropped by a significant 0.12 kg during the pandemic (p=0.016). Similarly, skeletal muscle percentage dropped by 0.32 percentage points (p<0.001), while skeletal muscle index decreased by 0.04 kg/m² (p=0.032).

“Clinicians should consider changes in body composition and their association with worsening glycaemic control in patients with glucose intolerance during periods of social restrictions,” the researchers said. “Snack intake should be monitored, and diet intervention might be warranted in such situations.”