Serum Myostatin among Excessive Drinkers

Abstract

Myostatin acts as a negative regulator of muscle growth. Its effect on fat mass is subject to debate. Among alcoholics, there is a high prevalence of muscle atrophy, and increased fat deposition has been also described in these patients. Myostatin could be involved in these alterations, but its relationships with body composition have been scarcely studied in alcoholic patients. To analyze the behavior of myostatin among alcoholics and its relationship with alcohol intake, liver function, and body composition. We investigated serum myostatin in 59 male patients and 18 controls. Patients were all heavy drinkers admitted with organic complications related to excessive ethanol ingestion. Densitometry analysis was used to assess body composition in 46 patients. Handgrip was assessed in 51 patients. Patients showed lower myostatin values than controls (Z = 3.80; p < 0.001). There was a significant relationship between myostatin and fat at the right leg (ρ = 0.32; p = 0.028), left leg (ρ = 0.32; p = 0.028), trunk (ρ = 0.31, p = 0.038), total fat proport ion (ρ = 0.33, p = 0.026), and gynecoid fat distribution (ρ = 0.40, p = 0.006) but not with lean mass (total lean ρ = 0.07; p = 0.63; trunk lean ρ = 0.03; p = 0.85; lower limbs ρ = 0.08; p = 0.58; upper limbs ρ = 0.04 p = 0.82; android ρ = 0.02; p = 0.88, or gynoid lean mass ρ = 0.20; p = 0.19). In total, 80.43% of patients showed at least one criterion of osteosarcopenic adiposity (OSA). Myostatin was related to OSA obesity. We also observed higher myostatin values among patients with body mass index > 30 kg/m². Serum myostatin was lower among excessive drinkers, and it was related to increased fat deposition among these patients but not to lean mass, handgrip, or bone mineral density.

Keywords: alcoholism; fat mass; myostatin; sarcopenic obesity.

Figure 1

Serum myostatin levels in patients (n = 59) and controls (n = 18). Circles correspond to outliers, and asterisks correspond to extreme outliers.

Figure 2

Relationship between serum myostatin and proportion of total fat among heavy drinkers (N = 46).

Figure 3

Relationship between serum myostatin and total lean mass among patients (N = 46).

Figure 4

Relationship between serum myostatin and body mass index among patients (N = 47).

Figure 5

Serum myostatin levels were significantly higher among patients classified as obese according to BMI. Circles correspond to outliers, and asterisks correspond to extreme outliers.

Figure 6

Serum myostatin levels were significantly higher in patients with at least 1 OSA criterion (80.43%). Circles correspond to outliers, and asterisks correspond to extreme outliers.