Research article - (2019)18, 513 - 522
Objectively Measured Aerobic Fitness is Not Related to Vascular Health Outcomes and Cardiovascular Disease Risk In 9-10 Year Old Children
Colin Farr1,, Andrew R. Middlebrooke1, Neil Armstrong1, Alan R. Barker1, Jon Fulford3, David M. Mawson2, Ali M. McManus4
1Children’s Health and Exercise Research Centre, Sport and Health Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
2Diabetes and Vascular Medicine, NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility, University of Exeter Medical School, RD&E (Wonford), Barrack Road, Exeter, UK
3NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
4Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, Canada

Colin Farr
✉ Research Assistant, MRC Epidemiology Unit, Princess of Wales Hospital, Lynn Road, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB6 1DN, UK
Email: colin.farr@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk
Received: 02-07-2018 -- Accepted: 13-05-2019
Published (online): 01-08-2019

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to examine whether a higher aerobic fitness in 9-10 year old children is related to superior macro and microvascular health and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Ninety-six 9-10 year olds (53 boys) completed the study. Body composition was assessed from air displacement plethysmography and magnetic resonance imaging. Peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2) was assessed from a ramp-incremental cycling exercise test. Macrovascular outcomes were assessed from pulse wave analysis and pulse wave velocity (PWV) using applanation tonometry. Microvascular function was assessed from the functional microvascular reserve and skin erythrocyte flux after iontophoretic application of skin vasodilators. Assessment of CVD risk was assessed via body mass index, total body fat percentage and visceral adipose tissue, glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, while insulin resistance was calculated using Homeostatic model assessment. Aerobic fitness groups (higher vs lower) were calculated from V̇O2 peak scaled for body mass (mL·kg-0.61·min-1) and fat free mass (mL·FFM-1·min-1). Children with a higher V̇O2 peak scaled for body mass had a greater carotid to ankle PWV compared to those with lower aerobic fitness (mean ± SD: 6.08 ± 0.47 vs. 5.87 ± 0.43 m·s-1; p = 0.039), although this became non-significant when scaled for FFM (p = 0.56). No other mean differences in vascular or CVD risk health markers were present between higher and lower groups of aerobic fitness when scaled for body mass or FFM. Conclusion: Directly assessed aerobic fitness is not related to macro and microvascular health outcomes or CVD risk markers in 9-10 year olds.

Key words: Peak oxygen uptake, heart disease, youth, blood vessel

Key Points
  • Children with a greater aerobic fitness had a higher carotid to ankle PWV compared to the lower fitness group when scaled for body mass, but not when adjusted for FFM.
  • When split into higher and lower groups for aerobic fitness and adjusted for TBF%, no differences in CVD risk factors were observed.
  • Higher levels of aerobic fitness, irrespective of normalisation for body mass or FFM, was not associated with improved vascular or CVD risk health outcomes in 9-10 year old children.








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