Reasons to Prevent Fat Accumulation in Your Muscles
When considering the deadliest factors for health, smoking, cancer, and obesity often come to mind. Yet, there lurks a hidden peril within our bodies that frequently goes unnoticed by many, including medical professionals.
Muscles: Quantity Versus Quality
Conversations about muscles typically focus on their size and strength, but recent studies emphasize the importance of quality over quantity. Odessa Addison, an associate professor at the University of Maryland specializing in rehabilitation science, highlights this shift in perspective.
“It’s not just about the quantity of muscle, but rather the quality and composition that significantly influence adult functionality,” she stated.
Intramuscular fat, also known as myosteatosis, profoundly impacts muscle quality. Unlike subcutaneous fat (stored under the skin) or visceral fat (around organs), intramuscular fat infiltrates muscle fibers, compromising their performance and function. This fat can accumulate between muscle fibers or within muscle cells.
Dr. Sean O’Mara, an expert in reversing chronic illnesses, describes myosteatosis as “fat replacing your muscle” or “human marbling.” He explains in a discussion with The Epoch Times that this process is insidious, leading to reduced muscle mass and function, resulting in numerous health complications.
“Even if you have the same amount of muscle, having more fat within those muscles means they do not function as effectively,” Addison mentioned.
The Risks of Intramuscular Fat
Muscles containing higher fat levels are less efficient, resulting in decreased strength and mobility, particularly as individuals age. However, myosteatosis poses serious health risks beyond impaired muscle function.
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Out of the 507 participants who passed away, 55 percent exhibited myosteatosis, leading to a 16 percent likelihood of death within a decade—higher than the risks associated with obesity, fatty liver disease, and muscle atrophy.
“Having this fat within your muscles doubles the mortality risk compared to an obese individual,” O’Mara emphasized, shedding light on the lethal consequences of myosteatosis.
Similar to visceral fat, intramuscular fat releases detrimental inflammatory substances.
“This muscle fat behaves similarly to visceral fat in your abdominal region, showing high levels of inflammation,” Addison elaborated.
Fitness and nutrition expert JJ Virgin told The Epoch Times that intramuscular fat “triggers the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to systemic inflammation.”
Virgin added, “Muscles are where glucose is stored. With fatty muscles, metabolic dysfunction, insulin resistance, and impaired glucose management develop.”
Addison mentioned, “There are metabolic repercussions. High levels of this muscle fat increase the likelihood of diabetes, insulin resistance, and poor postoperative recovery.”
O’Mara explained that individuals with larger muscles, such as bodybuilders consuming high carbohydrate quantities, are prone to higher intramuscular fat levels, contributing to increased heart disease risk. Conversely, those with denser muscles, who consume fewer carbohydrates, naturally have lower intramuscular fat levels, decreasing their heart disease risk.
One immediate concern is the impact of myosteatosis on mobility. “We know for sure that if you have more of this fat, your likelihood of declining in mobility and independence over time increase,” Addison highlighted.
This decline may lead to frailty, a heightened risk of falls, and diminished independence, particularly in older individuals.
However, not all intramuscular fat is detrimental. “Endurance athletes typically exhibit more marbling in their muscles,” as it serves as an energy source, Virgin noted.
How Intramuscular Fat Develops
Intramuscular fat often coexists with other harmful fat deposits such as visceral fat and deep subcutaneous fat.
“When there’s a significant amount of visceral fat present, the likelihood of muscle fat accumulation also increases,” O’Mara explained.
Several factors contribute to myosteatosis. Diet plays a crucial role, with high carbohydrate consumption, particularly from processed food sources, being a primary factor.
“Carbohydrates, especially from processed foods, significantly contribute to intramuscular fat. In the absence of carbohydrates, fat and protein have minimal impact on fat accumulation,” O’Mara noted.
Alcohol consumption exacerbates the condition by impeding the elimination of visceral fat and promoting increased fat deposition. Poor sleep, often observed in individuals with sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea, also plays a role. Stress likewise has negative effects.
Addison mentioned that age and genetics also play a part, although further research is necessary to fully comprehend their influence.
Identifying Myosteatosis: Tools and Techniques
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Presently, there is no standardized method for measuring intramuscular fat, as indicated by Addison.
“I believe that this is an area where modern medicine has not completely caught up yet,” she remarked, pointing out shortcomings in current practices.
Despite advancements in imaging technologies like MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and CT (computed tomography) scans, intramuscular fat is not routinely assessed outside of research environments.
However, certain physicians, like O’Mara, do measure various types of fat in the body. MRI is considered the gold standard for detecting myosteatosis due to its superior imaging capabilities, offering detailed images that differentiate healthy muscle tissue from fat infiltration.
Although typically more expensive, broader utilization of MRIs could drive down costs and enhance health outcomes by improving diagnostic accuracy and early detection, he asserted.
O’Mara highlighted that the visual feedback from an MRI aids patient education and engagement. He stresses the importance of showing patients images of their muscles compared to healthy and unhealthy tissue.
This visual approach motivates patients to make necessary lifestyle changes more effectively than numerical data alone.
CT scans offer a more cost-effective alternative to MRIs while still providing valuable insights into muscle fat content. Despite being less detailed
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