Combined Association of Diet and Cardiorespiratory Fitness with Metabolic Syndrome in Chinese Schoolchildren

The Impact of Body Composition on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Adult Females

INTRODUCTION

 This study investigates the impact of body composition on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in adult females, focusing on factors such as maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max). It also emphasizes the importance of maintaining a physically active lifestyle for achieving CRF. Previous research links CRF to protection against metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

 To investigate the impact of body composition as specified by body mass index (BMI), fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM), and basal metabolic rates (BMRs) on CRF in adult females.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Adult females aged 19-24 participated in this prospective cross-sectional experimental study (n=110). The study excluded those with specific health conditions. Anthropometric measurements, bio-impedance analysis, and a Balke treadmill test were conducted to assess VO2 max and, hence, the CRF. Nutrient intake was assessed, and energy requirements were calculated. The data were analyzed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS, version 21; IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY). The test statistics deployed were mean (± SD), ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, post-hoc Bonferroni test, and regression analysis.

RESULTS

 The study revealed significant differences in anthropometry among BMI categories. Energy intake showed no significant variation. Body mass distribution, BMRs, and vital signs significantly differed among BMI groups. Most participants exhibited poor CRF; a negative correlation between BMI and VO2 max was observed.

CONCLUSION

Body compositions, particularly BMI and FFM, body fat percentage, and BMR, influence CRF in young adult females. Poor CRF was prevalent among participants, indicating a potential impact on cardiovascular health. The findings underline the importance of addressing lifestyle factors in promoting better cardiorespiratory health among young adult females.

Interaction between major dietary patterns and cardiorespiratory fitness on metabolic syndrome in Iranian adults: a cross-sectional study

Background

Several researches have been conducted on the associations between diet and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and major cardiovascular risk factors. However, there is no report about the interaction between major dietary patterns and CRF on metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components. To investigate the combined association of major dietary patterns and CRF on MetS and its components.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 270 apparently healthy adults living in Tehran, Iran. Dietary intake was evaluated using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). CRF was assessed using a graded exercise treadmill test. Socio-economic status, anthropometric measures, biochemical parameters, and blood pressure were evaluated according to standard methods. Major dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis.

Results

Three major identified dietary patterns were (healthy, mixed, and western). Significant positive association was found between mixed dietary pattern and metabolic syndrome (OR = 2.68, 95% CI (1.92,7.78), P = 0.04). There were not relations between tertiles of identified dietary patterns and remained outcomes. Those who had higher adherence to mixed pattern with also higher CRF showed a significant decrease for diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.01). Also we found that there was no significant interaction between any of dietary patterns and CRF on odds of MetS.

Conclusions

Overall, adherence to mixed dietary pattern in this population was associated with increasing odds of MetS. However, nor CRF neither the combination of dietary patterns and CRF was related to the odds of MetS among Iranian adults. More studies are needed to clarify these associations and to consider interpersonal determinants.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12937-021-00695-4.

Non-exercise based estimation of cardiorespiratory fitness is inversely associated with metabolic syndrome in a representative sample of Korean adults

Background

This study investigated the association between non-exercise based estimation of cardiorespiratory fitness (eCRF) and metabolic syndrome (Mets) in Korean adults aged 18 years and older (13,400 women and 9885 men).

Methods

Data from the 2008 and 2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys IV and V in South Korea were analyzed. eCRF was assessed with a previously validated procedure. Participants were classified into 5 categories from the lowest quantile to the highest quantile based on individual eCRF distributions.

Results

The findings showed an independent and inverse association between eCRF and Mets in women and men separately. Individuals in the highest eCRF category (quantile 5) had a significantly lower prevalence of Mets (14.5 and 14.8% for women and men, respectively) compared with their counterparts (40.4 and 46.4% for women and men, respectively) in the lowest eCRF category (quantile 1), and the association showed a graded response, with the quantiles 2, 3, and 4 also significantly associated with a lower prevalence of Mets compared with the quantile 1. Furthermore, the prevalence of Mets in the highest quantile compared with the lowest quantile remained statistically significant in both men (p < 0.05) and women (p < 0.05) even after adjustments for age, body mass index, skeletal muscle index, smoking, heavy drinking, vitamin D, caloric intake, and dietary intakes of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

Conclusion

The findings support a preventive role for eCRF against Mets in Korean adults.

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet in metabolically healthy and unhealthy overweight and obese European adolescents: the HELENA study

PURPOSE

To examine the adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern (MDP) in metabolically healthy overweight or obese (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO) European adolescents.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 137 overweight/obese adolescents aged 12-17 years old from the HELENA study were included. Height, weight, waist circumference and skinfold thickness were measured and body mass index and body fat percent were calculated. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, glucose, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and cardiorespiratory fitness (20 m shuttle run test) were measured. MHO and MUO phenotypes were categorized following the Jolliffe and Janssen criteria. Two non-consecutive 24 h recalls were used for dietary intake assessment and the adherence to the MDP was calculated using the Mediterranean dietary pattern score (MDP score) (range 0-9).

RESULTS

A total of 45 (22 girls) adolescents (32.8%) were categorized as MHO. The adherence to the MDP was significantly higher in MHO than in MUO adolescents regardless of age, sex, body fat percentage, energy intake and center (MDP score: 4.6 ± 1.6 vs. 3.9 ± 1.5, p = 0.036), but this difference became non-significant after further adjustment for cardiorespiratory fitness. Participants who had a low adherence to the MDP (MDP score ≤ 4) had a higher likelihood of having MUO phenotype regardless of sex, age, energy intake, center and body fat percentage (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.01-4.81, p = 0.048).

CONCLUSIONS

Adherence to the MDP might be beneficial to maintain metabolic health in overweight/obese adolescents, yet cardiorespiratory fitness seems to play a key role on the metabolic phenotype.

Association of cardiorespiratory fitness levels with dietary habits and lifestyle factors in schoolchildren

This study examined the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) levels and lifestyle factors in a representative sample of Greek schoolchildren. In 2015, a health survey was carried out in 177 091 participants 8–17 years of age. Dietary habits, sleeping hours, physical activity (PA), and sedentary activities were assessed through self-completed questionnaires. CRF was evaluated with a 20-m shuttle run test. Insufficient dietary habits were greater in boys and girls classified as having low CRF than in their peers with healthy CRF. Skipping breakfast (odds ratio (OR), 0.82; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79–0.85), fast food consumption (OR, 0.70; 95% CI 0.68–0.72), and regular sweet intake (OR, 0.79; 95% CI 0.76–0.82) decreased the odds of having a healthy CRF level. An increase in age by 1 year (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.70–0.72), overweight/obesity (OR, 0.30; 95% CI 0.29–0.31), and insufficient sleep duration (OR, 0.74; 95% CI 0.72–0.76) decreased the odds of a healthy CRF level, whereas sufficient dietary habits and adequate PA levels increased a participant’s odds of having a healthy CRF level, by 48% and 40%, respectively. Although the mechanisms via which CRF may be influenced by dietary habits remain unclear, health policy-makers should consider opportunities for improving both CRF and dietary habits.

Hyperuricemia is associated with low cardiorespiratory fitness levels and excess weight in schoolchildren

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the possible association between hyperuricemia and cardiorespiratory fitness levels/nutritional profile, grouped into a single variable, in schoolchildren.

METHOD

Cross-sectional study of 2335 students from Elementary schools, aged 7-17 years of both genders, stratified by conglomerates of a municipality in Southern Brazil. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was assessed by the 6-minute run/walk test. The BMI and CRF were grouped into a single variable, considering: (1) low and normal weight/fit; (2) low and normal weight/unfit; (3) overweight-obesity/fit; (4) overweight-obesity/unfit. The Poisson regression (prevalence ratio, PR) was used for the association between hyperuricemia and BMI/CRF ratio with 95% confidence intervals and differences were considered significant when p<0.05.

RESULTS

There is an association, although subtle, between the presence of hyperuricemia with low levels of CRF and the presence of excess weight, when grouped into a single variable. Boys and girls with this condition have higher prevalence of hyperuricemia (PR: 1.07; p=0.007 for boys; PR: 1.10; p<0.001 for girls).

CONCLUSION

Together, excess weight and low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with the presence of hyperuricemia in schoolchildren.

Muscular fitness, adherence to the Southern European Atlantic Diet and cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Muscular fitness and an adherence to the Southern European Atlantic Diet (SEADiet) have been inversely associated with cardiometabolic risk. Our aim was to assess the independent and combined associations of muscular fitness and adherence to the SEADiet on cardiometabolic risk in adolescents.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 467 Portuguese adolescents (275 girls) participated in this cross-sectional study. Sum of the Z-Scores of Curl-Up and Push-Up tests was used to create a muscular fitness score. Adherence to SEADiet was obtained using a food frequency questionnaire. A cardiometabolic risk score was computed from sum of Z-score of triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol/HDL ratio, HOMA-IR and waist circumference. Adolescents with low muscular fitness and low adherence to the SEADiet had the poorest cardiovascular profile F_(5, 452) = 5.074 (p < 0.001) and the highest odds of having a high cardiometabolic risk score (OR = 4.5; 95% CI: 2.1-14) when compared to those with High muscular fitness/High adherence to the SEADiet after adjustments for age, sex, pubertal stage, socioeconomic status, total energy intake, low-energy reporter and cardiorespiratory fitness.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings seem suggest that improving muscular fitness as well as an adherence to the SEADiet could be an important strategy to reduce clustered cardiometabolic risk in youth.

Dietary factors associated with metabolic syndrome and its components in overweight and obese Brazilian schoolchildren: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The metabolic syndrome (MS) has been assessed since childhood mainly because of the nutritional and epidemiological transition that has occurred worldwide. Our objectives were to explore the MS and its components according to anthropometric and demographic factors and to assess the relationship among MS components and dietary characteristics in overweight and obese schoolchildren.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study which included 147 schoolchildren (aged 6-10 years) from three elementary schools, with body mass index (BMI) higher than the 85th percentile. Sexual maturation stages, anthropometric measures (weight, height, skinfold thickness and waist circumference), biochemical data (glucose, HDL-C and triacylglycerol), blood pressure and dietary intake were assessed. The metabolic syndrome was diagnosed if three or more of the following components were presented: waist circumference ≥90th age and sex-specific cut-off, blood pressure ≥90th age, sex and height-specific cut-off, glucose ≥100 mg/dL, HDL-C ≥ 40 mg/dL and triacylglycerols ≥ 110 mg/dL. The dietary intake was assessed by three non-consecutive 24-h recalls. The T test, Kruskal-Wallis and multiple linear regression analysis were applied to assess MS components and dietary intake.

RESULTS

The MS percentage was 10.2 % and it was higher in obese children and ones with high body fat percentage. The waist circumference was the main altered component of MS and 62 % of overweight schoolchildren showed at least one altered component of MS. The components of metabolic syndrome associated with dietary intake were triacylglycerol (positive association with saturated and monounsaturated fat, whole-milk products and processed foods and negative associated with legumes and polyunsaturated fat), glycemia (positive association with processed foods and negative with cereals), HDL-C (positive association with vegetables and greens) and waist circumference was negative associated with protein.

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of MS was higher in obese than overweight schoolchildren and the frequency of at least one MS component was high in more than half of our subjects. The waist circumference was the most frequent among all other components. The triacylglycerol and glycemia were the most frequent MS components associated with dietary intake. Unprocessed food was considered a protective dietary factor for MS metabolic components and processed food with high percentage of sugar and saturated fat was a risk factor for MS metabolic components.