Muscle Wasting in Metabolic Dysfunction: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Innovations

A Special Issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989) belonging to the section "Endocrinology and Clinical Metabolic Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 1271

Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy, and Immunologic Diseases, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
Interests: adipose tissue remodeling; muscle wasting; lipid metabolism; obesity; type 2 diabetes; acute respiratory distress syndrome

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will highlight the molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying muscle wasting in the context of metabolic dysfunction, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and critical illness. These conditions are commonly associated with a significant loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, which contributes to poor clinical outcomes, increased morbidity, and impaired recovery. This Special Issue will showcase mechanistic insights and translational strategies that address muscle atrophy, with a particular emphasis on metabolic stressors and systemic alterations.

We invite the submission of original research articles and comprehensive reviews that investigate how metabolic dysregulation—such as altered lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and hormonal imbalances—drives muscle degradation. Studies utilizing nutritional models (e.g., a high-fat diet), pharmacological interventions (e.g., GLP-1 receptor agonists), and disease models (e.g., acute respiratory distress syndrome/ARDS, pneumonia, and sepsis) affecting body composition are encouraged. Submissions may comprise in vitro studies, animal models, and human clinical research, particularly those integrating multi-omics approaches or identifying novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. We also welcome research exploring adipose–muscle crosstalk and systemic metabolic stressors such as hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia.

The aim of this Special Issue is to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms driving muscle wasting in metabolic dysfunction and to promote the development of targeted nutritional and pharmacological therapies. By bringing together diverse methodologies and perspectives, we aim to reveal translational insights that can bridge basic science and clinical application, ultimately improving muscle health and metabolic outcomes in affected populations.

Dr. Chia Chi Chuang Key
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Metabolites is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • muscle wasting
  • obesity
  • diabetes
  • critical illness
  • adipose–muscle crosstalk
  • inflammation
  • metabolic dysfunction

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

15 pages, 1182 KB  
Article
Body Composition Changes During GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Therapy in Pediatric Obesity: A Pilot Study
by Bogdan Mihai Pascu, Irina Bojoga, Anca Bălănescu, Paul Cristian Bălănescu and Ioan Gherghina
Metabolites 2026, 16(7), 460; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo16070460 - 1 Jul 2026
Viewed by 784
Abstract
Background and Objectives: GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are effective weight-loss therapies, but data on body composition changes in pediatric obesity remain scarce. The primary objective was to evaluate the effects of GLP-1 RAs on body composition in children with obesity. Materials and [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are effective weight-loss therapies, but data on body composition changes in pediatric obesity remain scarce. The primary objective was to evaluate the effects of GLP-1 RAs on body composition in children with obesity. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of children with obesity evaluated at the National Institute for Mother and Child Health “Alessandrescu-Rusescu”, Bucharest, Romania, who initiated weekly injectable GLP-1 RA therapy (semaglutide) between January and December 2025. Patients were assessed at baseline and after a median follow-up of 5 months. Eight of ten participants with complete paired data were included in the final analysis; two were excluded because one was a non-responder with weight gain and suspected non-compliance, while one responder could not maintain the standing position for bioimpedance measurement. Bioimpedance analysis and anthropometry were performed at both visits. Paired data were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Results: Eight children (4 boys, 4 girls; mean age 14.9 ± 1.8 years) completed the study. Significant Body Mass Index (BMI) Z-score improvements were observed (CDC: −0.14, p = 0.012; WHO: −0.37, p = 0.012), with a median weight reduction of 4.75 kg (p = 0.036). While absolute muscle mass showed non-significant change (−1.3 kg, p = 0.362), predicted muscle mass percentage increased significantly (+1.9%, p = 0.012), suggesting selective fat loss. Fat-free mass percentage increased (+2.0%, p = 0.012) with reciprocal fat mass reduction (absolute: −3.85 kg, p = 0.017; percentage: −2.0%, p = 0.012). Fat-free mass index remained stable (−0.67 kg/m2, p = 0.161). No serious adverse events occurred. Sensitivity analysis (n = 10) confirmed the robustness of the results, with improvements in BMI Z-scores remaining significant. Conclusions: In this preliminary pilot study, GLP-1 RA therapy in children with obesity was associated with significant improvements in BMI Z-scores and favorable shifts in body composition, consistent with selective fat loss and relative preservation of lean mass. These exploratory findings are hypothesis-generating and support the conduct of larger prospective controlled studies with body composition as a primary endpoint. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop