We evaluated endurance running performance and body mass index (BMI) in relation to
biochemical cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk indicators (s-lipids, s-insulin, s-ferritin),
and blood pressure in 14- and 17-year-old healthy Swedish adolescents (n = 879), also
considering current dietary intake and physical activity. Endurance running performance
was assessed using a 3 km running test and height, body weight, waist and hip circumference,
and skin folds were measured at clinical) examination. Physical activity and dietary
intake were evaluated using self-reported 7-day-records. The results showed that high
endurance running performance was related to a favourable CVD risk indicator profile.
Multiple regression analyses including running time, BMI, physical activity, dietary
fat and iron intake, and age as independent and s-lipids, s-insulin, and s-ferritin
as dependent variables revealed that, in both boys and girls, low BMI was associated
to a favourable s-lipid profile and lower s-insulin values and, in boys but not in
girls, also to lower s-ferritin values. There were, however, no independent associations
between level of physical activity or endurance running performance on the one side
and s-lipids, s-insulin, or s-ferritin values on the other. High dietary fat intake
was associated to s-lipids in a non-atherogenic direction; in boys to higher HDL-C
and in girls to lower TG. In conclusion the study showed that body mass seems to be
the most important factor explaining the differences in s-lipid and s-insulin values
between adolescents with different lev/el of physical performance capacity. An interesting
finding was„ that s-ferritin, being a proposed risk factor for CVD, in the older boys
related to body mass in a similar way as s-lipids and s-insulin.
Key words
Adolescents - endurance running performance - body mass index - blood pressure - serum
lipids - serum insulin - serum ferritin - physical activity - diet
