title: Correlation of habitual physical activity levels with flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery in 5-10 year old children.
abstract: Endothelial dysfunction is an early key event of atherogenesis. Both fitness level and exercise intervention have been shown to positively influence endothelial function. In a cross-sectional study of 47 children, the relationship between habitual physical activity and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery was explored. Habitual physical activity levels (PALs) were assessed using a validated stable isotope technique, and FMD of the brachial artery was measured via high-resolution ultrasound. The results showed that habitual physical activity significantly correlated with FMD (r=0.39, P=0.007), and remained the most influential variable on dilation in multivariate analysis. Although both fitness level and exercise intervention have previously been shown to positively influence FMD, this is the first time that a relationship with normal PALs has been investigated, especially, at such a young age. These data support the concept that physical activity exerts its protective effect on cardiovascular health via the endothelium and add further emphasis to the importance of physical activity in childhood.
authors.affiliation: School of Human Movement Studies, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland 4059, Australia.
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: Margo A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Harkness
authors.forename: Peter S W
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000098:blood supply; D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*