Macronutrient intakes and cardio metabolic risk factors in high BMI African American children
Sushma Sharma1, Lindsay S Roberts, Mark L Hudes
1The Dr Robert C and Veronica Atkins Center for Weight and Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3100, USA. sushma@berkeley.edu.
Insights
Dietary energy sources impact cardio metabolic risk in high BMI African American children. Carbohydrate energy increased risk, while protein and fat energy showed beneficial effects on risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Cardio-metabolic Health
- Nutritional Epidemiology
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing concern, particularly in African American (AA) populations.
- High BMI in children is linked to increased risk of cardio-metabolic diseases.
- Understanding the role of dietary macronutrients is crucial for managing risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between macronutrient energy intake and cardio-metabolic risk markers in high BMI AA children.
- To differentiate the effects of carbohydrate, fat, and protein energy on metabolic health indicators.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of 80 African American children aged 9-11 years with BMI above the 85th percentile.
- Measurement of fasting hematological and biochemical markers, and blood pressure as cardio-metabolic risk indicators.
- Multivariate regression analysis to assess relationships between dietary macronutrient intakes and risk factors, adjusting for covariates.
Main Results:
- Higher total energy intake correlated with increased intermediate density lipoprotein cholesterol (IDL-C) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C).
- Increased carbohydrate energy intake was associated with higher IDL-C, VLDL-C, triglycerides (TG), and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).
- Higher fat energy intake was linked to lower IDL-C, while higher protein energy intake was associated with reduced HOMA-IR.
Conclusions:
- Macronutrient composition of energy intake significantly influences cardio-metabolic risk factors in high BMI AA children.
- Carbohydrate energy appears to have detrimental effects, increasing lipids and insulin resistance.
- Protein and fat energy intakes demonstrate protective effects, reducing HOMA-IR and IDL-C, respectively, suggesting dietary quality is key.
Background:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between intakes of energy-providing macronutrients, and markers of cardio metabolic risk factors in high BMI African American (AA) children.
Methods:
A cross sectional analysis of a sample of 9-11 year old children (n = 80) with BMI greater then the 85th percentile. Fasting hematological and biochemical measurements, and blood pressure were measured as selected markers of cardio metabolic risk factors and their relationships to dietary intakes determined.
Results:
After adjusting for gender, pubertal stage and waist circumference (WC), multivariate regression analysis showed that higher total energy intakes (when unadjusted for source of energy) were associated with higher plasma concentrations of intermediate density lipoprotein cholesterol (IDL-C) and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C). Higher intakes of carbohydrate energy (fat and protein held constant) were associated with higher IDL-C, VLDL-C, triglycerides (TG) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Higher intakes of fat (carbohydrate and protein held constant), however, were associated with lower IDL-C; and higher protein intakes (fat and carbohydrate held constant) were associated with lower HOMA-IR.
Conclusion:
The specific macronutrients that contribute energy are significantly associated with a wide range of cardio metabolic risk factors in high BMI AA children. Increases in carbohydrate energy were associated with undesirable effects including increases in several classes of plasma lipids and HOMA-IR. Increases in protein energy were associated with the desirable effect of reduced HOMA-IR, and fat energy intakes were associated with the desirable effect of reduced IDL-C. This analysis suggests that the effect of increased energy on risk of developing cardio metabolic risk factors is influenced by the source of that energy.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Obesity
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:24Overview of Lipid Metabolism
Lipolysis: The Breakdown of Lipids:
Lipolysis is the process of breaking down lipids, particularly triglycerides, into glycerol and fatty acids. This process typically occurs in the adipose tissue and is triggered by various hormones, including glucagon and...
01:26Type II Diabetes I: Introduction
01:29Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation
Considering cholesterol and...
01:19Overview of Carbohydrate Metabolism
Glucose transport into cells is facilitated by a family of transport proteins called GLUT (Glucose Transporters). GLUT4 is the primary glucose transporter for insulin-stimulated glucose...