Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM) is a rare muscle-wasting condition primarily affecting older adults. Gradual loss of muscle mass and function make everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs, or lifting objects increasingly difficult for people with IBM. At present, no medications have been shown to stop or slow its progression, meaning alternative treatment approaches are needed. Diet plays an important role in maintaining muscle health as we age, and adapting the type and amounts of foods eaten may be a cost-effective way to help manage IBM. However, we know very little about the dietary habits of people with IBM or whether diet may influence the severity of the disease.
This research, sponsored by Manchester Metropolitan University and funded by both the university and Myositis UK, will recruit 32 adults with IBM and 15 healthy volunteers, aged 40 years and older. Participants will attend two visits at the Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport. The first will check that participants are an appropriate fit for the study. This visit will be followed by four weeks of home-based monitoring, including diet diaries, physical activity tracking and questionnaires. At the second visit, body composition (the body's proportion of muscle, fat and bone), vitamin D levels, resting energy expenditure (how much energy the body uses at rest) and muscle strength will be measured. MRI scans for muscle size and quality will also be run. Healthy volunteers, recruited via the NIHR BioResource are vital to this study. By comparing people with IBM to individuals of a similar age without the condition, we can determine which findings are linked to normal ageing and which are specific to IBM.
Ultimately, the study aims to address a critical knowledge gap and lay the foundations for personalised dietary advice to support people living with IBM.
