Association of socioeconomic status, truncal fat and sICAM-1 with carotid intima-media thickness in adolescents: the HELENA study.

Objective: To measure the carotid intima-media-thickness (cIMT) and to assess its determinant factors in healthy adolescents.

Methods: 319 adolescents aged 12.5-17.5 years (135 boys, 184 girls) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. cIMT and carotid diameter were measured by high-resolution B-mode ultrasound. Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, physical activity (PA), aerobic fitness and dietary intakes were assessed. Socioeconomic status was determined with the family affluence scale (FAS 4). Serum biological markers (lipids, glucose, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, soluble adhesion molecules) were measured in a subsample of 96 adolescents.

Results: Multiple regression analysis showed that cIMT was positively associated with truncal fat (p = 0.021) and negatively with FAS 4 (p = 0.002) independently of age and blood pressure. There were no significant associations between cIMT and PA, fitness and dietary intakes. In the subsample soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 was positively correlated with cIMT (p = 0.017), independently of truncal fat, age and blood pressure.

Conclusions: Low socioeconomic conditions and increased truncal fat are associated with greater carotid intima-media-thickness in adolescents.