Subcutaneous fat mass in infancy and abdominal, pericardial and liver fat assessed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging at the age of 10 years

Influence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Metabolic Syndrome on Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness in Rural Spanish Children and Adolescents

The presence of visceral adipose tissue implies a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases than subcutaneous adiposity, the most dangerous heart fat. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) could have great potential as a detection indicator of cardiovascular diseases, although it has seldom been studied in Spanish children.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the current research was to describe the values of EAT in a Spanish pediatric population and to investigate the associations between EAT and anthropometric measures, blood pressure, lipid and glucose profiles, and metabolic syndrome.

METHOD

An analytical cross-sectional study of elementary and high school students (aged 6 to 17) measured anthropometrics, blood pressure, lipid and glycemic profiles, and echocardiographic fat thickness. The analysis was based on regression and discriminant analysis.

RESULTS

The results of this study (N = 227) showed that the body mass index (BMI) was 20.29 ± 4.54, with an overweight set of 49.77%, and the percentage for metabolic syndrome was 5.3%. EAT was linked to being male, BMI percentile, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio (p < 0.001), hypertension, higher low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, and metabolic syndrome (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This paper argues that in children with higher elevated EAT thickness values, this correlates with cardiovascular risk factors including high blood pressure, elevated LDL levels, and metabolic syndrome.

Childhood BMI and other measures of body composition as a predictor of cardiometabolic non-communicable diseases in adulthood: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

There is growing evidence that childhood malnutrition is associated with non-communicable diseases (NCD) in adulthood and that body composition mediates some of this association. This review aims to determine if childhood body composition can be used to predict later-life cardiometabolic NCD and which measures of body composition predicts future NCD.

DESIGN

Electronic databases were searched for articles where: children aged under 5 years had body composition measured; cardiometabolic health outcomes were measured a minimum of 10 years later.

SETTING

The databases Embase, Medline and Global Health were searched through July 2020.

PARTICIPANTS

Children aged under 5 years with a follow-up of minimum 10 years.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Though a poor proxy measure of body composition, body mass index (BMI) was commonly reported (n 28, 97 %). 25 % of these studies included an additional measure (ponderal index or skinfold thickness). Few studies adjusted for current body size (n 11, 39 %).

CONCLUSIONS

Many studies reported that low infant BMI and high childhood BMI were associated with an increased risk of NCD-related outcomes in later life but no conclusions can be made about the exact timing of child malnutrition and consequent impact on NCD. Because studies focussed on BMI rather than direct measures of body composition, nothing can be said about which measures of body composition in childhood are most useful. Future research on child nutrition and long-term outcomes is urgently needed and should include validated body composition assessments as well as standard anthropometric and BMI measurements.

Role of obesity and blood pressure in epicardial adipose tissue thickness in children

BACKGROUND

Elevated body mass index (BMI) has been associated with cardiac changes, such as higher epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness. This fat has been identified as a predictive factor of cardiovascular diseases during adulthood. However, few studies have tested the association of multiple cardiovascular risk factors (high weight or blood pressure) with EAT in adolescents and children. Therefore, the main objective of this current research was to determine the impact of BMI, overweight, obesity, and blood pressure on EAT thickness in children.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study focused on elementary and high school students aged 6-16 years was carried out by utilizing diverse measurements and instruments, such as echocardiography.

RESULTS

EAT thickness (N = 228) was linked to sex (more predominant in boys 2.3 ± 0.6; p = 0.044), obesity (2.3 ± 0.6; p < 0.001), and hypertension (2.6 ± 0.6; p = 0.036). The logistic regression indicated that age, sex, and BMI seemed to be more relevant factors in EAT thickness in children (adjusted R square = 0.22; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This paper examined the associations of sex, age, and cardiovascular risk factors (arthrometric measures and blood pressure) with EAT thickness, indicating that it is necessary to assess whether the findings are associated with future events.

IMPACT

Excessive weight gain and blood pressure in the early stages of life have been associated with adipose tissue. This increase in weight and blood pressure has been attributed to alterations in the epicardial adipose tissue linked to anthropometric markers in adults, but no related study has been implemented in Spanish children. This study revealed how higher epicardial adipose tissue is linked to body mass index, other anthropometric parameters, and blood pressure in Spanish children. These measurements are related to high epicardial adipose tissue thickness, which in early stages does not imply pathology but increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

The mysterious values of adipose tissue density and fat content in infants: MRI-measured body composition studies

Adipose tissue is a type of connective tissue composed of closely packed adipocytes with collagenous and elastic fibers. These adipocytes store triglycerides at a high percentage and the estimate of this amount is important for the calculation of body fat mass. For example, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures adipose tissue volume, but adipose tissue density (fat content percentage and density) is required to calculate fat mass. However, in previously published studies, the conversion factor for white adipose tissue density varies from study to study. This paper aimed to investigate the different adipose tissue densities used as conversion factors to clarify differences between studies. Furthermore, we include a new proposal for adipose tissue density and fat content of infants based on the results of recent water-fat MRI studies. IMPACT: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the methods used to measure body composition in infants and the inherent density of tissue/organs is needed in order to calculate the mass of target organs and tissues. The conversion factor used for white adipose tissue density currently varies from study to study. This article includes a new recommendation for the adipose tissue density and fat content of infants based on the results of recent water-fat MRI studies.

Exclusivity of breastfeeding and body composition: learnings from the Baby-bod study

Background

This report evaluated the breastfeeding status in a Tasmanian cohort and its effects on infant and maternal anthropometry and body composition.

Methods

An observational-cohort analysis of self-reported feeding data from 175 Tasmanian mother-baby dyads (recruited via in-person contact between September 2017 and October 2019), was executed. Only mothers who were ≥ 18 years of age, who had a singleton pregnancy and were able to speak and understand English, were included in the study. Infants outside a gestational age range between 37^+ 0 and 41^+ 6 weeks were excluded. Infant (using Air Displacement Plethysmography) and maternal body composition was assessed at 0, 3 and 6 months. Analysis of variance with relevant statistical corrections were utilised for cross-sectional and longitudinal comparisons between non-exclusively breastfed (neBF) and exclusively breastfed (eBF) groups.

Results

Fat-free mass was significantly higher [t = 2.27, df = 98, P = 0.03, confidence interval (CI) 0.03, 0.48] in neBF infants at 6 months (5.59 ± 0.59 vs 5.33 ± 0.50 kg) despite a higher mean fat-free mass in eBF infants at birth (2.89 ± 0.34 vs 3.01 ± 0.35 kg). Weak evidence for different fat mass index trajectories was observed for eBF and neBF infants in the first 6 months of life (ANOVA, F = 2.42, df = 1.9, P = 0.09) with an inversion in fat mass index levels between 3 and 6 months. Body Mass Index (BMI) trajectories were significantly different in eBF and neBF mothers through pregnancy and the first 6 months postpartum (ANOVA, F = 5.56, df = 30.14, P = 0.01). Compared with eBF mothers, neBF mothers retained significantly less weight (t = − 2.754, df = 158, P = 0.02, CI -6.64, − 1.09) at 3 months (0.68 ± 11.69 vs 4.55 ± 6.08 kg) postpartum. Prevalence for neBF was incrementally higher in mothers with a normal BMI compared to mothers with obesity, and mothers who underwent surgical or medical intervention during birth were less likely to exclusively breastfeed.

Conclusions

Infants with different feeding patterns may display varying growth patterns in early life and sustained breastfeeding can contribute to greater postpartum maternal weight loss.