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Background: Predicting an individual's success in a non-surgical weight loss approach is a demanding need since obesity is becoming an epidemic burden. A possible predictive marker is myostatin, a member of the transforming growth factor b superfamily, which has been shown to be an important regulator of muscle homeostasis. Methods: In the present study, we analyzed myostatin as a marker to predict weight loss of patients that participated in a 2 phased weight reduction program, comprising a weight loss period of 12 weeks and a weight stabilization period of 40 weeks. Therefore, 62 obese individuals with a mean BMI of 40.6 kg/m2 were included. Plasma myostatin was measured with ELISA at the beginning (T0), after weight loss (T1) and at the end of the program (T2). Results: Although significant weight loss of - 23.9 ± 14.9 kg was achieved, myostatin did not change significantly during the program (T0 > T1: p = 0.46; T1 > T2: p = 0.70; T0 > T2: p = 0.57). Myostatin at baseline did neither negatively correlate with the achieved weight loss in the weight reduction phase (T0 > T1: r = 0.27, p = 0.16) nor with weight loss during the whole program (T0 > T2: r = 0.20, p = 0.29). Only a minor correlation with myostatin levels after weight loss with weight regain during maintenance period was detected. (T1 > T2: r = - 0.37, p = 0.05). Conclusion: Plasma myostatin might be suitable in predicting weight regain after marked weight loss, but no association with weight loss was observed in patients undergoing a non-surgical weight loss program. Therefore, myostatin does not seem to be a predictor for success in non-surgical weight loss approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim:/Introduction: Glyoxalase 1 catalyses the detoxification of methylglyoxal, a major precursor of advanced glycation end products associated with aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and microvascular complications of diabetes. Here, we examine a possible association of a single nucleotide polymorphism of glyoxalase 1 gene (Glo1 A332C, rs4746 or rs2736654 ) with the prevalence of microvascular diabetic complications in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: Genotyping was performed in 209 patients with type 1 and 524 patients with type 2 diabetes using polymerase chain reaction and subsequent cleavage by restriction endonuclease Bsa I. Results: Frequencies of the glyoxalase 1 genotypes were different with respect to diabetes type with a signifi cantly higher prevalence of A332A-genotype in type 1 diabetes (35.9 % vs. 27.3 %; p = 0.03). In type 1 diabetes, there was no correlation of any genotype with diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy or neuropathy. In contrast, type 2 diabetic patients homozygous for the C332C allele showed a signifi cantly increased prevalence of diabetic neuropathy (p = 0.03; OR = 1.49 [95 %-CI: 1.04; 2.11]), while no association with diabetic nephropathy or retinopathy was found. However, the significance of this association was lost after correction for multiple testing. Conclusions: Our data suggest a possible association of C332C-genotype of the glyoxalase 1 gene with diabetic neuropathy in type 2 diabetes, supporting the hypothesis that methylglyoxal might be an important mediator of diabetic neuropathy in type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author comments on the article "Effects of Long-Term Exercise Interventions on Glycaemic Control in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review," by M. Kanter and colleagues. Topics discussed include the benefits of physical activities for type 2 diabetes mellitus, the impact of exercise for glycemic control, and the significance of guidelines on exercise interventions for type 2 diabetes patients.