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Published on: March 7, 2019
Associations of Physical Activity and Dietary Fat Quality With Arterial Health in Adolescents
Mika Jormanainen1, Aino-Maija Eloranta2,3,4, Marja H Leppänen3,5
1Sports and Exercise Medicine, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
Background:
While the clinical signs of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are not usually visible until adulthood, the CVD pathology begins already in childhood.
Objectives:
To study the associations of physical activity (PA) and dietary fat quality with arterial health among adolescents.
Methods:
Altogether 117 adolescents 15-17 years of age participated in the study. Sedentary time (ST), light PA, moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), PA energy expenditure (PAEE), resistance training volume and dietary fat quality were assessed. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) were assessed by impedance cardiography, and carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT) and carotid artery distensibility were assessed by carotid ultrasonography.
Results:
ST was negatively associated with cIMT (standardised regression coefficient β = -0.225, p = 0.015). MVPA and PAEE were negatively associated with PWV (β = -0.245 to -0.228, p < 0.05) and CAVI (β = -0.226 to -0.212, p < 0.05), and positively with cIMT (β = 0.235 to 0.269, p < 0.05). MVPA was positively associated with carotid artery distensibility (β = 0.180, p = 0.047). Monounsaturated fat intake was positively associated with carotid artery distensibility (β = 0.190, p = 0.041). PAEE was negatively associated with CAVI in adolescents with higher saturated fat (SFA) intake (β = -0.367, p = 0.017), but not in adolescents with lower SFA intake (β = -0.095, p = 0.526).
Conclusion:
MVPA and PAEE were related to better arterial health. Moreover, our results suggest that higher PAEE benefits adolescents with higher SFA intake.
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