Work

Analysis of body composition characteristics in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: a case–control study based on a bioelectrical impedance analyzer

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Objective This study aimed to systematically compare differences in body composition between adult patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and healthy controls using the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) method, to provide an objective basis for clinical nutritional assessment and intervention in T1DM patients. Methods A total of 57 T1DM patients hospitalized at the First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province between December 2023 and April 2024 were selected as the study group, and 55 healthy adults matched for age, sex, and BMI were recruited as the control group. Body composition indicators, including body fat, fat-free mass, skeletal muscle, visceral fat area, and phase angle (PA), were measured for all subjects using a body composition analyzer, and the skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) was calculated. BIA was used to determine body composition parameters, and statistical analyses were conducted to compare the differences between the two groups. Results In males, the T1DM group exhibited significantly lower body fat, body fat percentage, bone mineral content, visceral fat area, and SMI compared to the healthy control group (all p < 0.05). In females, the T1DM group showed significantly higher levels of intracellular water, protein, minerals, skeletal muscle, fat-free mass, right leg lean mass, basal metabolic rate, and SMI, while demonstrating significantly lower body fat, body fat percentage, visceral fat area, and waist-to-hip ratio compared to the control group (all p < 0.05). Conclusion Despite having normal or even low BMI, T1DM patients present a unique body composition profile characterized by “low fat mass, low visceral fat, but relatively high skeletal muscle mass.” This suggests that the disease state may influence energy metabolism and body composition.

Source: Frontiers in Medicine

DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2026.1776074