Relations of body composition to left ventricular geometry and function in children.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether body composition and fasting insulin levels explained variation in left ventricular (LV) function and geometry.


METHODS
Sixty-two children, 7 to 13 years of age.


RESULTS
For LV mass/height the partial correlation (age controlled) with percentage of fat was r = 0.34 (p = 0.008) and the correlation with (Ln)insulin was r = 0.25 (p = 0.051); multiple regression showed that independent proportions of the variance were explained by gender (boys > girls), ethnicity (black > white subjects), and percentage of fat (p = 0.015). Nonnormalized LV mass was correlated (age controlled) with fat-free mass (r = 0.76; p < 0.001), fat mass (r = 0.58; p < 0.001), and (Ln) insulin (r = 0.27; p = 0.0359); multiple regression showed that fat-free mass and fat mass explained independent proportions of the variance. Percentage of fat was correlated (age controlled) with greater relative wall thickness (r = 0.34; p = 0.008) and lower midwall fractional shortening (-0.37; p = 0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
Body fatness was cross-sectionally associated with levels of LV function and geometry that in adults have been found to lead to morbidity and death. The relationship of fatness to LV mass may be due to the higher insulin concentrations in the fatter children. These cross-sectional results are consistent with the hypothesis that excess fatness may adversely influence cardiovascular health early in life.
Gutin
B
B
Georgia Prevention Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912-3710, USA.
Treiber
F
F
Owens
S
S
Mensah
G A
GA
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044383:Black People; D001823:Body Composition; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000453:epidemiology; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D007328:Insulin