title: The triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein ratio identifies children who may be at risk of developing cardiometabolic disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is important to develop simple, reliable methods to identify high-risk individuals who may benefit from intervention. This study investigated the association between the triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL) ratio and cardiometabolic risk, cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anthropometric, biochemical parameters, cardiorespiratory fitness and accelerometry determined physical activity were assessed in 155 children (80 girls) from 10 to 14 years of age from Bedfordshire, UK. Participants were grouped into high and low TG/HDL ratio groups, according to published thresholds. MANCOVA and logistic regression were used in the analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cardiometabolic risk factor levels were significantly higher in participants with a high TG/HDL ratio (p < 0.05). The odds of having high waist circumference (OR = 13.99; 95% CI 2.93, 69.25), elevated systolic blood pressure (5.27; 1.39, 20.01), high non-HDL cholesterol (19.47; 4.42, 85.81) and ≥2 cardiometabolic risk factors (15.32; 3.10, 75.79) were higher in participants with a high TG/HDL ratio. The TG/HDL ratio values were significantly lower in those with high cardiorespiratory fitness (p = 0.01), but there was no association with physical activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings support the use of the TG/HDL ratio to identify children with cardiometabolic risk factors who may be at risk of developing cardiometabolic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science and Physical Activity, Institute for Sport and Physical Activity Research, University of Bedfordshire, Bedford, Bedfordshire, UK.
authors.forename: Daniel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Louise A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Savory
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Denton
authors.forename: Ben R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Catherine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kerr
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides
keywords: Blood pressure; Cardiometabolic risk; Lipoproteins; Metabolic syndrome; Obesity