Independent associations between sedentary time, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness and cardio-metabolic health : a cross-sectional study

We aimed to study the independent associations of sedentary time (ST), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and objectively measured cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with clustered cardio-metabolic risk and its individual components (waist circumference, fasting glucose, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure). We also investigated whether any associations between MVPA or ST and clustered cardio-metabolic risk were mediated by CRF. MVPA, ST, CRF and individual cardio-metabolic components were measured in a population-based sample of 341 adults (age 53.8 +/- 8.9 years; 61% men) between 2012 and 2014. MVPA and ST were measured with the SenseWear pro 3 Armband and CRF was measured with a maximal exercise test. Multiple linear regression models and the product of coefficients method were used to examine independent associations and mediation effects, respectively. Results showed that low MVPA and low CRF were associated with a higher clustered cardio-metabolic risk (beta = -0.26 and beta = -0.43, both p<0.001, respectively). CRF explained 73% of the variance in the association between MVPA and clustered cardio-metabolic risk and attenuated this association to non-significance. After mutual adjustment for MVPA and ST, CRF was the most important risk factor for a higher clustered cardio-metabolic risk (beta = -0.39, p<0.001). In conclusion, because of the mediating role of CRF, lifestyle-interventions need to be feasible yet challenging enough to lead to increases in CRF to improve someone's cardio-metabolic health

Longitudinal study on the association between three dietary indices, anthropometric parameters and blood lipids

Background: From a health promotion perspective, the use of dietary indices is preferred above single nutrients and foods to evaluate diet quality. Longitudinal research about the association between dietary indices and respectively anthropometric parameters and blood lipids is lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the longitudinal association between three dietary indices (Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI), Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) and Diet Quality Index (DQI)) and respectively anthropometric parameters and blood lipids. Methods: A three day diet record was completed by 373 men and 197 women in 2002-2004 and 2012-2014. HEI, MDS and DQI were calculated. Waist circumference (WC) and Body Mass Index (BMI) were used as anthropometric parameters. A linear regression analysis was performed to investigate associations between changes in dietary indices and changes in respectively anthropometric parameters and blood lipids, adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Only in men an increase in all three dietary indices was associated with a decrease in WC and BMI in the non-adjusted analysis and for HEI and DQI also in the adjusted analysis. No longitudinal associations were found between dietary indices and blood lipids both in men and women. Conclusions: Only few associations were found between dietary indices and anthropometric parameters, whilst no associations were found with blood lipids. An increase in dietary indices was associated with an improvement in anthropometric parameters only in men. As this is the first study investigating associations between changes in dietary indices and changes in respectively anthropometric parameters and blood lipids, further research is needed to evaluate these possible associations

Longitudinal study on the association between cardiorespiratory fitness, anthropometric parameters and blood lipids

Background: Longitudinal evidence concerning the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and blood lipids and between anthropometric parameters (ANTP) and blood lipids is limited. This study aimed to investigate the association between changes in CRF and ANTP and changes in blood lipids. Methods: In 2002-2004 and 2012-2014,652 participants were tested. CRF was measured as VO(2)peak using a maximal ergometer test. Waist circumference (WC) and Body Mass Index (BMI) were used as ANTP. Blood samples were analyzed for total cholesterol (TC), HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. A linear regression analysis was performed to investigate associations between changes in CRF and ANTP and changes in blood lipids. Results: After adjustment a decrease in CRF was associated with an increase in triglycerides and a decrease in HDL cholesterol in men. An increase in WC was associated with an increase in TC, LDL cholesterol and ratio total/HDL cholesterol and a decrease in HDL cholesterol, while an increase in BMI was associated with an increase in ratio total/HDL cholesterol and a decrease in HDL cholesterol. Conclusions: WC and BMI were more longitudinally associated with blood lipids compared with CRF. Improving ANTP can enhance the blood lipid profile, while CRF had only limited influence

Ten-year change in sedentary behaviour, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiometabolic risk : independent associations and mediation analysis

BACKGROUND: We aimed to study the independent associations of 10-year change in sedentary behaviour (SB), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and objectively measured cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), with concurrent change in clustered cardiometabolic risk and its individual components (waist circumference, fasting glucose, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure). We also determined whether associations were mediated by change in CRF (for SB and MVPA), waist circumference (for SB, MVPA and CRF) and dietary intake (for SB). METHODS: A population-based sample of 425 adults (age (mean±SD) 55.83±9.40; 65% men) was followed prospectively for 9.62±0.52 years. Participants self-reported SB and MVPA and performed a maximal cycle ergometer test to estimate peak oxygen uptake at baseline (2002-2004) and follow-up (2012-2014). Multiple linear regression and the product of coefficients method were used to examine independent associations and mediation effects, respectively. RESULTS: Greater increase in SB was associated with more detrimental change in clustered cardiometabolic risk, waist circumference, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides, independently of change in MVPA. Greater decrease in MVPA was associated with greater decrease in HDL cholesterol and increase in clustered cardiometabolic risk, waist circumference and fasting glucose, independent of change in SB. Greater decrease in CRF was associated with more detrimental change in clustered cardiometabolic risk and all individual components. Change in CRF mediated the associations of change in SB and MVPA with change in clustered cardiometabolic risk, waist circumference and, only for MVPA, HDL cholesterol. Change in waist circumference mediated the associations between change in CRF and change in clustered cardiometabolic risk, fasting glucose, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of decreasing SB and increasing MVPA, resulting in positive change in CRF, is likely to be most beneficial towards cardiometabolic health

Low 10-year reproducibility of glycaemic index and glycaemic load in a prospective cohort study

When relating glycaemic index (GI) and glycaemic load (GL) to health outcomes, many prospective cohort studies assess the nutritional exposure only once in time, that is, at the start of the study, presuming a stability in nutritional consumption during the course of the study. The aim of this study is to investigate the reproducibility of GI and GL. This is a prospective cohort study in which 562 middle-aged Belgian adults noted all foods and drinks consumed during 3d in 2002 and 2012. GI and GL were calculated after reference tables. The Pearson correlation coefficients between 2002 and 2012 were 0.27 for GI and 0.41 for GL. For GF 33 % of the participants remained in the same quintile between 2002 and 2012, whereas 31 % moved lo a non-adjacent quintile. For GL. this was 34 and 28%, respectively. The lowest and the highest quintiles of GI were the most stable, with 40 and 44 % of the participants staying in the same quintile. This was only 22 % for the fourth quintile. The same tendency was present for GL - that is, the most extreme quintiles were the most stable. This study shows 10-year correlation coefficients for GI and GL below 0.50. Multiple nutritional assessments and limiting the analysis to the extreme quintiles of GI and GL will limit a possible misclassification in the prospective cohort studies owing to the low reproducibility

Cross-sectional study on the relationship between the Mediterranean Diet Score and blood lipids

Background: Blood lipids are cardiovascular health indicators. High LDL cholesterol values and/or high total cholesterol (TC)/HDL cholesterol ratios are positively related with cardiovascular mortality. Evidence suggests that a Mediterranean diet can reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is often measured by the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS). However, the association between the Mediterranean diet and blood lipid profiles seems still inconclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the MDS, its different components and blood lipid profiles. Methods: A sample of 506 women and 707 men (aged 18-75 years) was recruited. Three-day diet records were used to calculate the MDS. Blood samples were analyzed for serum TC, LDL and HDL cholesterol. ANOVA was used to analyze blood lipids across the MDS tertiles. A multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to investigate the associations between the MDS, its components and blood lipids, adjusted for several confounders. All analyses were stratified by gender. Results: Few gender-specific associations were found between the MDS, its components and blood lipids. Only in men, the total MDS was negatively related with LDL cholesterol and the ratio TC/HDL cholesterol while positively with HDL cholesterol. In women, respectively two (MUFA/SFA and cereals) and in men three (fruits & nuts, meat and alcohol) of the nine MDS components were related with blood lipids. Conclusions: Analyses investigating the relationship between the MDS, its components and blood lipid profiles indicate only limited influence of the Mediterranean diet on blood lipids. More associations were detected in men compared to women

Age-related changes in muscular fitness - Role of genetic factors

The human ageing process is associated with a significant decline in skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength. This progressive loss in muscle mass and strength, known as sarcopenia, disturbs the daily life of elderly and may hinder healthy ageing. As it has been reported that a number of saropenia-related phenotypes are highly heritable, it is important to understand how ageing and its interactions with lifestyle and genetic factors affect physical fitness. The following doctoral project therefore aims at developing a better understanding regarding the effects of genotypic sequence, structural variation and physical activity on muscle mass decline and loss in muscle strength over a ten-year period(2002-2006 > 2012-2015). In the first study, a Genetic Predisposition Score (GPS) based on a number of sequence variants in candidate genes will be used to predict the loss of muscle strength with ageing. The secondstudy will examine the epigenetic changes in promoter regions of candidate genes, occurring under the influence of physical activity. In conclusion, it is our purpose to determine whether the loss in muscle functionand muscle mass, occurring with ageing, is (epi-)genetically determined.nrpages: 226status: publishe

Muscle mass and muscle function over the adult life span: a cross-sectional study in Flemish adults

Aging is accompanied with a progressive deterioration of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and muscle function, also termed sarcopenia.publisher: Elsevier articletitle: Muscle mass and muscle function over the adult life span: A cross-sectional study in Flemish adults journaltitle: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics articlelink: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2015.06.009 content_type: article copyright: Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.status: publishe