International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | Interview with the Author—Prof. Dr. Giuseppe D’Antona
Name: Prof. Dr. Giuseppe D’Antona
Affiliation: Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27058 Voghera, Italy
“Maximal Oxygen Consumption Is Negatively Associated with Fat Mass in Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy”
by Oscar Crisafulli, Luca Grattarola, Giorgio Bottoni, Jessica Lacetera, Emanuela Lavaselli, Matteo Beretta-Piccoli, Rossella Tupler, Emiliano Soldini and Giuseppe D’Antona
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(8), 1108; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21081108
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/8/979
The following is an interview with Prof. Dr. Giuseppe D’Antona:
1. Congratulations on your published paper. Could you give us a brief introduction about yourself and your current research topic to our readers?
I am a professor of exercise and sport science and the Director of the CRIAMS-Sports Medicine Center Voghera at the University of Pavia, Italy. For many years, my research was focused on the basic mechanisms of skeletal muscle plasticity and its adaptations under physiological conditions, such as exercise and aging, as well as in pathological conditions, including neuromuscular diseases. Since 2012, my focus has shifted from bench to bedside. I founded the University Laboratory for the Study of Motor Activities in Rare Diseases, which is dedicated to identifying effective physical exercise protocols and nutritional approaches to slow the degenerative processes associated with neuromuscular conditions, including muscular dystrophies and metabolic disorders. Today, I am particularly interested in studying the potential of physical exercise and nutrition as therapeutic tools for maintaining the health of patients with rare neuromuscular diseases, for the majority of whom there are no clear guidelines or recommendations.
2. Could you describe the difficulties and breakthrough innovations in this research field?
The research in the field of rare neuromuscular diseases highlights a significant gap between the ongoing demand for therapeutic interventions to improve patients’ health conditions and the impracticality of currently experimental therapies. This situation calls for a closer look at possible alternative approaches, which may appear conceptually simpler but are potentially valuable, such as sports therapy and nutritional therapy. These approaches could offer effective support to slow down myopathic processes, or at least some of them. From this point of view, our laboratory aims to serve as a reference point for patients with rare neuromuscular and metabolic diseases. Our mission seeks to introduce a new method of approaching patients after their diagnostic and clinical assessment. This phase is considered particularly important and delicate, as it is often experienced by patients as a period of abandonment or diminished attention from institutions. During this time, it is crucial to enhance the patient’s residual functional capacities, as these often significantly contribute to maintaining their daily activities. However, this requires empowering the patient, who must take on a central and active role in carrying out the training and nutritional program, with constant multispecialty support. In addition to providing clinical support to patients, our laboratory pursues several lines of research, all aimed at the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life for those affected.
3. What do you think is the innovation in this paper? How do you find this innovation when writing the paper?
Our recently published work in IJERPH focuses on facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD), the second most common progressive hereditary muscular dystrophy in adults, with an estimated prevalence of 1 in 20,000 individuals. The disease presents a wide phenotypic spectrum, including heterogeneous symptoms, variable progression, and a fluctuating age of onset, typically in the second or third decade of life. To address the complexity of the disease's clinical presentation, we are exploring additional stratification factors to monitor during interventions aimed at improving or maintaining patients’ quality of life, such as exercise, nutritional adjustments, and supplementation. In our paper, we emphasize the critical role of body composition in evaluating the health and physical efficiency of patients with FSHD. Our research identifies a significant negative association between maximal oxygen consumption—an indicator of physical fitness—and body fat percentage in these patients. This finding is particularly noteworthy because maximal oxygen consumption is not just a measure of aerobic capacity; it is also a key indicator of cardiovascular and muscular efficiency. For patients with muscular dystrophies like FSHD, maintaining physical function is essential for preserving autonomy and quality of life. We hope readers will understand the importance of regularly monitoring body composition, particularly body fat, in FSHD patients. Unlike complex or invasive tests, body composition assessment is non-invasive, simple, and cost-effective, making it a practical tool for clinical practice. Regular monitoring enables healthcare providers to track changes over time and make more informed decisions about patient care. By observing the relationship between body fat and physical efficiency, we can better understand the factors contributing to disease-related functional decline. Furthermore, our findings suggest that maintaining a healthy body composition—reducing excess fat while promoting lean mass—may be a crucial strategy for preserving physical function in FSHD patients. Interventions such as nutritional support and targeted exercise programs could help slow the progression of physical decline and improve patient outcomes. This approach holds promise for more effective disease management. In conclusion, we hope our paper highlights the importance of incorporating body composition as a central metric in the clinical management of FSHD, as well as other neuromuscular diseases. By doing so, healthcare providers can implement more personalized and targeted interventions that not only enhance physical fitness but also improve the overall well-being and quality of life for patients living with these conditions.
4. Do you have any advice or experience that you would like to share with young researchers who want to pursue research in this field?
The study of rare neuromuscular diseases requires a solid background in physiology and pathophysiology, which is essential for effectively addressing highly complex conditions. In general, the importance of nutritional interventions and those based on physical activity represents a still largely unexplored territory. This field demands young, passionate, dedicated, and curious minds, capable of taking on significant and complex challenges.
5. What is your impression of the publishing experience with IJERPH?
First and foremost, I appreciated that a niche topic with potentially significant implications for a specific group of patients could find a place in the journal. The peer-review process was conducted properly, leading to a progressive improvement in the content of the manuscript, with which we are now very satisfied.
6. We are an open access journal. How do you think the open access model impacts authors?
Open access has become a well-established system that enables the rapid dissemination of scientific findings, resulting in a significant and immediate impact on the directions science takes on a daily basis. In addition to ensuring widespread dissemination of knowledge, it also enhances the visibility of scientific findings, accelerating their social impact as in the field of neuromuscular diseases.
We would like to express our gratitude to Prof. Dr. Giuseppe D’Antona and his research group for choosing the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH, ISSN: 1660-4601) as the platform to publish their research. Submissions and input related to the area of health promotion and health presentation are welcomed by our journal.