title: Body fat distribution and early arterial changes in healthy 5-year-old children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is unknown at what age overweight starts to takes its toll on the vasculature. We studied the relation between body size measures and vascular characteristics in healthy 5-year-old children.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 306 5-year-old children from an on-going birth cohort, body size characteristics were measured, including sonographic measurement of abdominal fat. Ultrasonographic measurements of the carotid artery were performed to obtain intima-media thickness (CIMT), arterial wall distensibility, and elastic modulus (EM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increased body-weight was related to thicker CIMT (linear regression coefficient 2.25 μm/kg; P = 0.003), increased EM (2.73 kPa/kg; P = 0.01), and lower distensibility (-1.23 MPa(-1)/kg; P = 0.03). Similar relations were found for increased BMI with CIMT and EM. Increased intra-abdominal fat was related to thicker CIMT (9.19 μm/cm; P = 0.02), and increased waist circumference with thicker CIMT (2.17 μm/cm; P = 0.02), lower distensibility (-1.70 MPa(-1)/cm; P = 0.01), and higher EM (2.77 kPa/cm; P = 0.02), independent of BMI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For the first time it is demonstrated that increased general body mass and particularly waist circumference and intra-abdominal fat are related to thicker and stiffer arteries already early in life.
authors.affiliation: Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Caroline C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Geerts
authors.forename: Annemieke M V
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Evelein
authors.forename: Michiel L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bots
authors.forename: Cornelis K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: van der Ent
authors.forename: Diederick E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Grobbee
authors.forename: Cuno S P M
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Uiterwaal
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D059289:Vascular Stiffness