Socio-economic factors in relation to lipid profiles in young girl athletes

The influence of socio-economic factors on blood lipid values was studied in 4 groups of young female athletes. Based on type of sport (gymnastics and swimming) and of training intensity, the participants were subdivided into 25 talented, high achievement gymnasts (age 12.3 +/- 1.6 (SD) year), 42 non-talented, low achievement gymnasts (age 12.0 +/- 1.2 (SD) year), 12 high achievement swimmers (age 10.3 +/- 1.6 (SD) year), and 24 low achievement swimmers (age 10.8 +/- 1.6 (SD) year). With respect to socio-economic factors, no significant differences were observed between the two gymnastic groups nor between the two swimming groups. The blood lipid values revealed a significantly higher low density lipoprotein-cholesterol level and significantly lower high density lipoprotein-cholesterol/total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol/low density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios in the talented gymnasts as compared to the non-talented gymnasts. In the high achievement swimmers, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly lower and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol/total cholesterol was significantly higher as compared to the other swimmers. The Spearman rank order correlation coefficients for the relationships between socio-economic factors and blood lipid values were mostly weak or inconsistent. Therefore, no major influence of socio-economic factors on blood lipid values could be demonstrated in the groups investigated.