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  • Clinical Research Article
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Is physical fitness associated with leucocyte telomere length in youth with type 1 diabetes?

Pediatric Research volume 97, pages 2354–2359 (2025)Cite this article

This article has been updated

Abstract

Background

In type 1 diabetes, telomere length (TL) may predict complications and could be influenced by glycaemic control and physical activity, but its relationship with physical fitness in youths remains unexplored. The aim of the study was to assess the association between physical fitness and TL in youth with type 1 diabetes, both at baseline and one year later.

Methods

Eighty-three children and adolescents (aged 6–18 years; 44.6% girls) with type 1 diabetes from the Diactive-1 Cohort Study were involved in this study. Physical fitness was assessed using spirometry on a cycloergometer (i.e., peak oxygen consumption), dynamometry, and maximal isometric strength (one-repetition maximum [1RM]), and muscle power. Leucocyte TL was assessed using multiplex monochrome real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Results

Positive cross-sectional associations were identified between 1RM (unstandardized beta coefficient [B] = 0.042, 95% bias corrected and accelerated [BCa] confidence interval [CI] 0.012–0.069), muscle power (B = 0.056, 95% BCa CI 0.02–0.250), and overall physical fitness (B = 0.043, 95% BCa CI 0.015–0.071) with TL independent of maturation, glycated haemoglobin, and diabetes duration. However, no associations were observed one year later.

Conclusion

Higher levels of fitness, particularly muscle strength, may play a role in telomere dynamics in youth with type 1 diabetes, suggesting that strength training exercise could be beneficial.

Impact

  • This is the first study to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal perspectives on the correlation among muscle strength, peak oxygen consumption [VO2peak] and telomere length in youths with type 1 diabetes.

  • Higher physical fitness levels, as assessed by measures such as one-repetition maximum, muscle power, and overall physical fitness, are positively associated with telomere length in youths with type 1 diabetes.

  • Understanding this link could improve management strategies, prioritizing muscle strength training for better long-term health in type 1 diabetes.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Change history

  • 11 February 2025

    The XML of this article was revised to reflect the author first and surname correctly.

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Acknowledgements

The technical assistance of Veronica Ciaurriz from the Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology and Center for Nutrition and Research at the University of Navarra is fully acknowledged.

Funding

This study was funded by grant PI21/01238 from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spain) and by CIBER of Obesity Physiology and Nutrition (CB12/03/30002). The project that gave rise to these results received the support of a fellowship form “Instituto de Salud Carlos III” granted to Jacinto Muñoz-Pardeza (FI22/00329). Dr. Ana Ojeda-Rodriguez is the recipient of a Sara Borrell grant (CD21/00099) from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. The origin of obtaining results was supported by a scholarship from the “la Caixa” Foundation awarded to Nidia Huerta Uribe (DNI 11780038).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra, Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain

    Jacinto Muñoz-Pardeza, Nidia Huerta-Uribe, Ignacio Hormazábal-Aguayo, Mikel Izquierdo & Antonio García-Hermoso

  2. One Health Research Group, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador

    José Francisco López-Gil

  3. Lipids and Atherosclerosis Unit, Unidad de Gestión Clinica Medicina Interna, Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research in Córdoba (IMIBIC), Reina Sofia University Hospital, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain

    Ana Ojeda-Rodríguez

  4. CIBER of Obesity Physiology and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain

    Ana Ojeda-Rodríguez & Amelia Marti del Moral

  5. Departament of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology, Universidad de Navarra (UNAV), IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain

    Amelia Marti del Moral

  6. CIBER of Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain

    Mikel Izquierdo

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  1. Jacinto Muñoz-Pardeza
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Contributions

M.J.C.G., SBZ, E.B.S., and M.I. They were involved in the conception, design and conduct of the study. A.G.H, J.L.G, J.M.P. were involved in the statistical analyses and interpretation of the results obtained. A.M.D. and A.O.R. oversaw executing the necessary protocols to obtain the telomere length and reviewed and approved the final version of the paper. I.H.A and N.H.U managed the physical evaluations and interpretation of the metabolic variables. J.M.P. wrote the first draft of the manuscript, and A.G.H., J.L.G., and M.I. reviewed, edited, and approved the final version of the paper. A.G.H is the guarantee of the work and, as such, had full access to all the data of the study, assuming full responsibility for it.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Antonio García-Hermoso.

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Muñoz-Pardeza, J., López-Gil, J.F., Huerta-Uribe, N. et al. Is physical fitness associated with leucocyte telomere length in youth with type 1 diabetes?. Pediatr Res 97, 2354–2359 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-024-03732-0

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