Myosteatosis and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

de Oliveira, Lucian Batista; de Oliveira e Silva, Vanessa; Jucá, Ítalo Caio Lopes; dos Santos Torres, João Victor Gonçalves; dos Santos Torres, Maria Roseneide; Moura, Fabio; Bandeira, Francisco

doi:10.14712/18059694.2025.17

Acta Medica > Archive > 2025, Vol. 68 > Issue 2 > Myosteatosis and Type 2 Diabetes…

Acta Med. 2025, 68: 37-44

https://doi.org/10.14712/18059694.2025.17

Myosteatosis and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Lucian Batista de Oliveira^a,b

, Vanessa de Oliveira e Silva^b

, Ítalo Caio Lopes Jucá^b

, João Victor Gonçalves dos Santos Torres^c, Maria Roseneide dos Santos Torres^b

, Fabio Moura^d

, Francisco Bandeira^a

^aDivision of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Agamenon Magalhães Hospital, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Pernambuco (UPE), Recife, Brazil
^bMedical School of Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG), Campina Grande, Brazil
^cFaculty of Medical Sciences, Unifacisa, Campina Grande, Brazil
^dEndocrinology and Diabetes, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

Received March 5, 2025
Accepted August 9, 2025

Myosteatosis refers to the infiltration of fat into skeletal muscle tissue, being influenced by factors such as advanced age and overweight, which increase the inability of adipocytes to store lipids. This condition not only alters the structure of the muscle but is also associated with endocrinological imbalances such as insulin resistance (IR) and hyperinsulinemia, increasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular diseases. Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are effective methods for measuring myosteatosis, identifying areas of fat accumulation that may indicate specific regional patterns. This review aimed to evaluate the main evidence that associates myosteatosis with T2DM, compiling the epidemiological data already available on the subject and the main gaps in the literature. Ten observational studies were selected, from different regions of the world, which showed a relationship between myosteatosis and a higher incidence of T2DM, as well as IR, worse glycemic status, increased inflammatory mediators and a tendency to coronary artery disease. In conclusion, myosteatosis and T2DM are conditions with a relevant relationship and that have significant implications for public health, requiring greater standardization of myosteatosis assessment methods and interventional studies that address potential therapeutic strategies for this condition.