The association between fat mass and subclinical atherosclerosis in healthy schoolchildren.

Background And Aims: Childhood obesity is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in life. The aims of this study were to investigate the change of atherosclerosis risk factors in three fat mass percentiles and to examine the association between fat mass and atherosclerosis risk factors among a group of schoolchildren.

Methods: A total of 125 schoolchildren (64 boys) aged 10-15 years were distributed into three groups: (i) the lower fat mass (LFM) group, for participants who reported fat mass ≤50th percentile; (ii) the middle fat mass (MFM) group, for participants who reported fat mass >50th percentile and <75th percentile; and (iii) the higher fat mass (HFM) group for participants who reported ≥ 75th percentiles. Measurements of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) using high-resolution B-mode ultrasound, lipemic profile, blood pressure, serum proinflammatory cytokines and soluble adhesion molecules were performed.

Results: Significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were shown between the three groups in total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), LDL, interlukien-6 (IL-6), and interlukien-1 beta (IL-1β). Using multiple linear regression analysis of fat mass as the dependent variable with the studied subclinical atherosclerosis risk, fat mass was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) associated with the variation expressed in systolic blood pressure (β = 0.490), diastolic blood pressure (β = 0.470), TC (β = 0.399), TG (β = 0.306), HDL (β = -0.281), LDL (β = 0.446), E-selectin (β = 0.314), and cIMT (β = 0.257).

Conclusion: Higher fat mass is associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis in schoolchildren. Atherosclerosis risk factors including biomarkers of inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, a state of dyslipidemia, increased cIMT, and high blood pressure were associated with fat mass. Studies evaluating the appropriate fat mass cut-off points in children and adolescents are needed.