Skinfold reference curves and their use in predicting metabolic syndrome risk in children

Assessment of nutritional status in children with cancer: A narrative review

A child's appropriate development stems in large part from proper nutrition. Malnutrition is an adverse prognostic factor in children with cancer, and its prevalence is highly variable. Currently, there is no standardized definition and assessment method of nutritional status in pediatric oncology. A complete nutritional assessment includes anthropometry, biochemical, clinical, and dietary assessments. In this article, we explore these methods and suggest practical approaches for pediatric cancer units depending on the levels of care that these can provide. We also advise on the monitoring and follow-up of children with cancer during and after treatment, and discuss potential areas for future research.

Ability of 2 estimation methods of body fat percentage in identifying unfavorable levels of cardiometabolic biomarkers in adolescents: Results from the LabMed study

Background:

To assess and compare the ability of body fat percentage (BF%) estimated by 2 methods, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and by the Slaughter et al equations for triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness (SKF), in identifying unfavorable levels of several biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk.

Methods:

Cross-sectional school-based study with 529 apparently healthy adolescents (267 girls), aged 14.3 ± 1.7 years.

Results:

BF% estimated by both methods always showed higher areas under the curve (AUC) for each biomarker in girls than in boys (with the exception of BIA for leptin). BF% estimated by BIA and by SKF presented a discriminatory ability in identifying unfavorable levels in all biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk in girls; however, BF% estimated by BIA displayed the highest AUC (except for C-reactive protein). In boys, BF% estimated by SKF presented higher AUC for C-reactive protein, fibrinogen and erythrocyte sedimentation rate; and BF% estimated by BIA for complement C3 and leptin. Positive and significant associations between BIA and SKF with all biomarkers (P < .05) were found (except for SKF and complement C4 in girls, and SKF and fibrinogen and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in boys), after adjustments for pubertal stage, cardiorespiratory fitness, adherence to the Mediterranean diet and socioeconomic status.

Conclusions:

Overall, diagnostic performance was more accurate in girls. BF% estimated by BIA presented a slightly better overall discriminatory ability for each biomarker than BF% estimated by SKF in girls, while in boys no method clearly prevailed over the other.

Intra-abdominal fat measurement by ultrasonography: association with anthropometry and metabolic syndrome in adolescents

OBJECTIVE

To associate intra-abdominal fat thickness measured by ultrasonography to the factors related to metabolic syndrome and to determine cutoff points of intra-abdominal fat measurement associated with a greater chance of metabolic syndrome in adolescents.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study, with 423 adolescents from public schools. Intra-abdominal fat was measured by ultrasonography. Anthropometric data were collected, and biochemical analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Intra-abdominal fat was measured by ultrasonography, showing a statistically significant association with the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome (p=0.037), body mass index (p<0.001), elevated triglyceride levels (p=0.012), decreased plasma HDL levels (p=0.034), and increased systemic blood pressure values (p=0.023). Cutoff values of intra-abdominal fat thickness measurements were calculated by ultrasound to estimate the individuals most likely to develop metabolic syndrome. In the logistic regression models, the cutoff values that showed the highest association with metabolic syndrome in males were 4.50, 5.35, 5.46, 6.24, and 6.50cm for the ages of 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18/19 years, respectively. In the female gender, the cutoff values defined for the same age groups were 4.46, 4.55, 4.45, 4.90, and 6.46cm. In an overall analysis using the ROC curve, without gender and age stratification, the cut-off of 3.67cm showed good sensitivity, but low specificity.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasonography is a useful method to estimate intra-abdominal adipose tissue in adolescents, which is associated with the main factors related to obesity and metabolic syndrome.