Evidence of a major gene with pleiotropic action for a cardiovascular disease risk syndrome in children younger than 14 years.
OBJECTIVE
To test the plausibility of the existence of a genetically based syndrome involving obesity, hypertension, and a central deposition of body fat.


METHODS
Survey of a random stratified sample of the US population.


METHODS
Male and female children aged 13 years or younger (mean, 5.3 years; SD, 3.7 years; median, 4.0 years; range, 6 months to 13 years) were chosen from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey II data.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
Using multivariate commingling analysis, we evaluated the hypothesis that a major gene produces a syndrome involving the phenotypic indicators of body mass index (in kilograms per square meter), subscapular-to-triceps skinfold thickness ratio, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. Maximum likelihood estimation was used to test competing models. A model with three component distributions and unequal variance-covariance matrices fit significantly better than any competing model.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings support the existence of a distinct cardiovascular disease risk syndrome in children and suggest that it may be the result of a major gene with pleiotropic effects.
Allison
D B
DB
Obesity Research Center, St Luke's/Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY.
Heshka
S
S
Heymsfield
S B
SB
D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010641:Phenotype; D012307:Risk Factors; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D013577:Syndrome