Association between Handgrip strength and Insulin Sensitivity and Beta-cell Function in Non-diabetic Young Nigerian Adults

Abstract

Introduction: Insulin resistance, a condition in which cells do not respond adequately to insulin, plays a crucial role in diabetes and related metabolic disorders. This study investigated the association between handgrip strength (HGS), Insulin sensitivity, and β-cell function in non-diabetic Nigerian young adults.
Materials and Methods: A total of 158 participants were used in this cross-sectional study. They were assessed for HGS, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting Insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and homeostatic model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-β). Assessments of normal distribution, descriptive statistics, subgroup analysis, Pearson's correlation, and regression models were done to analyse relationships and predict insulin and beta cell sensitivity. Multiple regression models were adjusted for confounders, and statistical significance was determined at p<0.01 or 0.05.
Results: The individuals exhibited acceptable physical and metabolic well-being, with males having an average Absolute HGS (AHGS) of 59.92 kg and females having an average AHGS of 43.83 kg. The average Relative HGS (RHGS) was 2.87 for males and 2.13 for females, with an overall average BMI of 21.29 kg/m2. Strong relationships were observed between HGS (both left and right) and insulin sensitivity (measured by HOMA-IR), as well as pancreatic beta cell function (measured by HOMA-β) (p<0.01) and across other metabolic parameters (p<0.01). The differences in these associations were more evident in males than females. Male participants displayed relatively higher associations between HGS and both HOMA indices. In contrast, female individuals demonstrated weaker and statistically insignificant connections, which could result from physical, lifestyle, or hormonal disparities.
Conclusion: This study is the first to show that HGS substantially indicates insulin sensitivity and beta cell function in a young, non-diabetic Nigerian population. The findings suggest that HGS could be a potential screening tool for managing insulin resistance and a feasible approach to enhancing metabolic health. Additional investigation is necessary to examine the fundamental processes and authenticate these findings in more extensive populations.