Energy Expenditure, Body Composition, and Skeletal Muscle Oxidative Capacity in Patients with Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1

BACKGROUND: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) patients are at risk for metabolic abnormalities and commonly experience overweight and obesity. Possibly, weight issues result from lowered resting energy expenditure (EE) and impaired muscle oxidative metabolism. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess EE, body composition, and muscle oxidative capacity in patients with DM1 compared to age-, sex- and BMI-matched controls. METHODS: A prospective case control study was conducted including 15 DM1 patients and 15 matched controls. Participants underwent state-of-the-art methodologies including 24 h whole room calorimetry, doubly labeled water and accelerometer analysis under 15-days of free-living conditions, muscle biopsy, full body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), computed tomography (CT) upper leg, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. RESULTS: Fat ratio determined by full body MRI was significantly higher in DM1 patients (56 [49–62] %) compared to healthy controls (44 [37–52] % ; p = 0.027). Resting EE did not differ between groups (1948 [1742–2146] vs (2001 [1853–2425>] kcal/24 h, respectively; p = 0.466). In contrast, total EE was 23% lower in DM1 patients (2162 [1794–2494] vs 2814 [2424–3310] kcal/24 h; p = 0.027). Also, DM1 patients had 63% less steps (3090 [2263–5063] vs 8283 [6855–11485] steps/24 h; p = 0.003) and a significantly lower VO(2) peak (22 [17–24] vs 33 [26–39] mL/min/kg; p = 0.003) compared to the healthy controls. Muscle biopsy citrate synthase activity did not differ between groups (15.4 [13.3–20.0] vs 20.1 [16.6–25.8] μM/g/min, respectively; p = 0.449). CONCLUSIONS: Resting EE does not differ between DM1 patients and healthy, matched controls when assessed under standardized circumstances. However, under free living conditions, total EE is substantially reduced in DM1 patients due to a lower physical activity level. The sedentary lifestyle of DM1 patients seems responsible for the undesirable changes in body composition and aerobic capacity.