Association between birth weight and neuromotor performance: a twin study

The development of neonatal intensive care has led to an increase in the prevalence of children with low birth weight and associated morbidity. The objectives of this study are to verify (1) The association between birth weight (BW) and neuromotor performance? (2) Is the neuromotor performance of twins within the normal range? (3) Are intra-pair similarities in neuromotor development of Monozygotic (MZ) and Disygotic (DZ) twins of unequal magnitude? The sample consisted of 191 children (78 MZ and 113 DZ), 8.9+3.1 years of age and with an average BW of 2246.3+485.4g. In addition to gestational characteristics, sports participation and Zurich Neuromotor Assessment (ZNA) were observed at childhood age. The statistical analysis was carried out with software SPSS 18.0, the STATA 10 and the ZNA performance scores. The level of significance was 0.05. For the neuromotor items high intra and inter-investigator reliabilities were obtained (0.793<R<1). BW, gestational length and Apgar 5´ accounted for <26% of the variance. Twins showed elevated percentages of subjects (32.7%<76.9%) with low performance <P10 in time-related neuromotor tasks, but not for the quality of the associated movements (2.6%<6.4%). The MZ twins were more similar than DZ for several neuromotor items. BW showed a limited association with neuromotor performance

Dietary factors associated with obesity indicators and level of sports participation in Flemish adults : a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Obesity develops when energy intake continuously exceeds energy expenditure, causing a fundamental chronic energy imbalance. Societal and behavioural changes over the last decades are held responsible for the considerable increase in sedentary lifestyles and inappropriate dietary patterns. The role of dietary fat and other dietary factors in the aetiology and maintenance of excess weight is controversial. The purposes of the present study were to investigate the dietary factors associated with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), and to analyse whether dietary intake varies between subjects with different levels of sports participation. METHODS: Data for this cross-sectional study, including anthropometric measurements, 3-day diet diary and physical activity questionnaire, were collected by the Flemish Policy Research Centre Sport, Physical Activity and Health (SPAH) between October 2002 and April 2004. Results of 485 adult men and 362 women with plausible dietary records were analysed. Analyses of covariance were performed to determine the differences in dietary intake between normal weight, overweight and obese subjects, and between subjects with different levels of sports participation. RESULTS: Total energy intake, protein and fat intake (kcal/day) were significantly higher in obese subjects compared to their lean counterparts in both genders. Percentage of energy intake from fat was significantly higher in obese men compared to men with normal weight or WC. Energy percentages from carbohydrates and fibres were negatively related to BMI and WC in men, whereas in women a higher carbohydrate and fibre intake was positively associated with obesity. Alcohol intake was positively associated with WC in men. Subjects participating in health related sports reported higher intake of carbohydrates, but lower intake of fat compared to subjects not participating in sports. CONCLUSION: This study supports the evidence that carbohydrate, fat, protein and fibre intake are closely related to BMI and WC. The sex differences for dietary intake between obese men and women might reflect the generally higher health consciousness of women. Alcohol intake was only associated with WC, emphasizing the importance of WC as an additional indicator in epidemiological studies. Besides enhancing sports and physical activity, it is necessary to improve the knowledge about nutrition and to promote the well-balanced consumption of wholesome food

Leveling the Playing Field: A New Proposed Method to Address Relative Age- and Maturity-Related Bias in Soccer

Despite various solutions proposed to solve the relative age effect (RAE), it is still a major problem confounding talent identification and selection processes. In the first phase, we sampled 302 under 7–21 academy soccer players from two Belgian professional soccer clubs to explore the potential of a new approach to solve the inequalities resulting from relative age- and maturity-related bias. This approach allocates players into four discrete quartile groups based on the midway point of their chronological and estimated developmental (ED) birth dates (calculated using the growth curves for stature of Belgian youth). With the use of chi square analyses, a RAE was found (p < 0.01) for the overall sample (Q1 = 41.4% vs. Q4 = 14.9%) that completely disappeared after reallocation (Q1 = 26.5%; Q2 = 21.9%; Q3 = 27.5%; Q4 = 24.2%). According to the new allocation method, the stature difference was reduced, on average, by 11.6 cm (from 24.0 ± 9.9 to 12.4 ± 3.4 cm, d = 1.57). Body mass difference between the two methods was 1.9 kg (20.1 ± 11.3–18.2 ± 13.1 kg, respectively, d = 0.15). The new method created a maximum chronological age difference of 1.9 vs. 0.8 years for the current method. With the use of this method, 47% of the players would be reallocated. Twenty-three percent would be moved up one age category, and 21% would be moved down. In the second phase, we also examined 80 UK academy soccer players to explore if reallocating players reduces the within-playing group variation of somatic and physical fitness characteristics. The percentage coefficient of variation (%CV) was reduced (0.2–10.1%) in 15 out of 20 metrics across U11–U16 age categories, with the U13 age category demonstrating the largest reductions (0.9–10.1%) in CV. The U12 and U13 age categories and associated reallocation groupings showed trivial to small (ES = 0.0–0.5) between-method differences and trivial to moderate (ES = 0.0–1.1) differences within the U14–U16 age categories. A reduction in RAE may lead to fewer dropouts and thus a larger player pool, which benefits, in turn, talent identification, selection, and development

Associations of combined genetic and epigenetic scores with muscle size and muscle strength: a pilot study in older women

Background: Inter-individual variance in skeletal muscle is closely related to genetic architecture and epigenetic regulation. Studies have examined genetic and epigenetic relationships with characteristics of ageing muscle separately, while no study has combined both genetic and epigenetic profiles in ageing muscle research. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between combined genetic and methylation scores and skeletal muscle in older women. Methods: 48 older Caucasian women (aged 65–79 yr) were included in this study. Biceps brachii thickness and vastus lateralis anatomical cross-sectional area (ACSAVL) were measured by ultrasonography. Maximum isometric elbow flexion (MVCEF) and knee extension (MVCKE) torques were measured by a customized dynamometer. The muscle-driven genetic predisposition score (GPSSNP) was calculated based on seven muscle-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). DNA methylation levels of whole blood samples were analysed using Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip arrays. The DNA methylation score was calculated as a weighted sum of methylation levels of sarcopenia-driven CpG sites (MSSAR) or an overall gene-wise methylation score (MSSNP, the mean methylation level of CpG sites located in muscle-related genes). Linear regression models were built to study genetic and epigenetic associations with muscle size and strength. Three models were built with both genetic and methylation scores: (1) MSSAR + GPSSNP, (2) MSSNP + GPSSNP, (3) gene-wise combined scores which were calculated as the ratio of the SNP score to the mean methylation level of promoters in the corresponding gene. Additional models with only a genetic or methylation score were also built. All models were adjusted for age and BMI. Results: MSSAR was negatively associated with ACSAVL, MVCEF and MVCKE, and explained 10.1%, 35.5% and 40.1% of the variance, respectively. MSSAR explained more variance in these muscular phenotypes than GPSSNP, MSSNP and models including both genetic and methylation scores. MSSNP and GPSSNP accounted for less than 8% and 5% of the variance in all muscular phenotypes, respectively. The genotype and methylation level of MSTN was positively related to MVCKE (p < 0.03) and explained 12.2% of the variance. The adjusted R2 and Akaike information criterion showed that models with only a MSSAR performed the best in explaining inter-individual variance in muscular phenotypes. Conclusion: Our results improve the understanding of inter-individual variance in muscular characteristics of older women and suggest a possible application of a sarcopenia-driven methylation score to muscle strength estimation in older women while the combination with a genetic score still needs to be further studied

A genetic predisposition score for muscular endophenotypes predicts the increase in aerobic power after training: the CAREGENE study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It is widely accepted that genetic variability might explain a large part of the observed heterogeneity in aerobic capacity and its response to training. Significant associations between polymorphisms of different genes with muscular strength, anaerobic phenotypes and body composition have been reported. Muscular endophenotypes are positively correlated with aerobic capacity, therefore, we tested the association of polymorphisms in twelve muscular related genes on aerobic capacity and its response to endurance training.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>935 Coronary artery disease patients (CAD) who performed an incremental exercise test until exhaustion at baseline and after three months of training were included. Polymorphisms of the genes were detected using the invader assay. Genotype-phenotype association analyses were performed using ANCOVA. Different models for a genetic predisposition score (GPS) were constructed based on literature and own data and were related to baseline and response VO₂scores.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Carriers of the minor allele in the R23K polymorphism of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (<it>GR</it>) and the ciliary neurotrophic factor gene (<it>CNTF</it>) had a significantly higher increase in peakVO₂after training (p < 0.05). Carriers of the minor allele (C34T) in the adenosine monophosphate deaminase (<it>AMPD1</it>) gene had a significantly lower relative increase (p < 0.05) in peakVO₂. GPS of data driven models were significantly associated with the increase in peakVO₂after training.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In CAD patients, suggestive associations were found in the <it>GR, CNTF </it>and the <it>AMPD1 </it>gene with an improved change in aerobic capacity after three months of training. Additionally data driven models with a genetic predisposition score (GPS) showed a significant predictive value for the increase in peakVO₂.</p

Genetics of somatotype and physical fitness in children and adolescents

Objectives To analyze the influence of genetic and environmental factors on the variation in somatotype, physical fitness, and their mutual associations. Methods Twins from 214 pairs (87 monozygotic) of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Portugal, from 3 to 18 years of age (51% girls) were assessed in anthropometry and physical fitness tests. We estimated endomorphy, mesomorphy, and ectomorphy based on anthropometric measures and physical fitness using the Eurofit test battery. Two age categories were analyzed: children (3-11 years) and adolescents (12-18 years). Genetic and environmental variations were estimated using quantitative genetic twin modeling. Results No genetic sex differences were found, thus boys and girls were pooled in all genetic analyses. Heritability estimates were high for somatotype (a(2)= 0.80-0.93), physical fitness traits (a(2)= 0.67-0.83), and largely similar in children and adolescents. Positive correlations were found for ectomorphy with motor ability and cardiorespiratory endurance as well as for endomorphy and mesomorphy with muscular strength (r= 0.25-0.37). In contrast, negative associations were found for ectomorphy with muscular strength, as well as for endomorphy and mesomorphy with motor ability and cardiorespiratory endurance (-0.46 to -0.26). Twin modeling indicated that these associations were explained mostly by genetic factors in common to the two associated traits (84% or more). Conclusions Associations between somatotype and physical fitness tests are mainly explained by common genetic background in children and adolescents. Therefore, interventions in youth should consider that a child's performance in physical fitness tests partly reflects their inherited physique.Peer reviewe

Körperproportionen der Leistungsstärkstenjuniorenruderer im bezug auf Wettkampfniveau,den Stil des Ruderns und die Bootsgattung

The performance of elite rowers is, beside others, determined by their physical characteristics. Anthropometric data for adult rowers emphasise the importance of body mass and body size for rowing performance. Little is known concerning the importance of proportional length development. At the 1997 World Junior Rowing Championships anthropometric measurements (body mass and 6 length dimensions) were performed on 383 elite male junior rowers. Based on these measurements several proportional length dimensions were calculated. Data on boat type were obtained by questionnaire and data on competition level were based on the results obtained during the championship. The results indicate that these rowers were heavier (Mean = 82.2±7.4 kg) and taller (Mean = 187.4±5.8 cm) and had a larger sitting height (Mean=96.8±3.2 cm) and longer legs (Mean= 90.7±3.8 cm) than a reference population. Finalists had significantly larger length dimensions than non-finalists and sweep rowers had in general larger length dimensions than scullers. No differences existed when the length dimensions were expressed proportional to the stature of the rowers. It can be concluded that elite junior rowers have larger length dimensions compared to less successful rowers, but these top athletes do not differentiate from the sub-elite athletes regarding proportional length development. Differences could be observed between sweep rowers and scullers with larger length dimensions in favour of sweep rowers.Uvod Natjecateljska uspješnost vrhunskih veslača određena je, između ostaloga, i njihovim tjelesnim karakteristikama. S biološkog stajališta možemo kod sportaša olimpijske i svjetske razine kvalitete očekivati optimalnu ekspresiju utjecaja nasljeđa, sportske pripreme, prehrane i socio-kulturnih faktora. Ispitivanje obilježja tih sportaša može pomoći kineziolozima, znanstvenicima i trenerima, u razumijevanju vrhunskog sportskog uspjeha time što im pruža informacije korisne za oblikovanje strategija za objašnjenje i predviđanje sportskih rezultata. U prošlosti su se antropometrijske studije bavile uglavnom veslačima seniorima, a manje juniorima. Te antropometrijske studije naglašavaju važnost tjelesne mase i veličine tijela za uspješnost u veslanju. Smatra se da osobitu prednost veslačima donose duži udovi zbog toga što su to duže poluge i što omogućuju veću radnu snagu. Duge noge pojačavaju potisnu fazu (provlak) veslačkog zaveslaja. Štoviše, veći veslači imaju veći presjek mišića i veći apsolutni energetski kapacitet. Proučavanje longitudinalnih dimenzija do sada je bilo uglavnom ograničeno na varijablu “visina tijela ili stas”. Samo je nekoliko studija o proporcijama longitudinalnih dimenzija vrhunskih veslača, pa se malo zna o važnosti longitudinalnih proporcija tijela veslača. Cilj je ove studije bio trostruk: (1) opisati razvojne proporcijske longitudinalne dimenzije juniora veslača u usporedbi s flamanskim mladićima, (2) usporediti tjelesne proporcije veslača prema različitim kvalitetnim natjecateljskim razinama, načinu veslanja i kategorijama čamca i (3) ustanoviti model antropometrijskog profila za veslače juniore. Metode Uzorak ispitanika činila su 383 veslača juniora, u dobi od 17,8 ± 0,7 godina, raspon godina od 15,1 do 18,6. Ispitanici su nastupili na FISA svjetskom ju-niorskom veslačkom prvenstvu 1997 godine. Istraživanjem je obuhvaćeno 90% sudionika (bez kormilara), od toga 83% pobjednika i osvajača meda-lja te 89% finalista. Svi su trenirali 7-10 puta tjedno (10-15 sati). Potpuni opis uzorka i mjerenja može se naći u članku Bourgois i suradnici (1998). Za ovaj članak upotrijebljene su sljedeće tjelesne dimenzije: tjelesna visina, sjedeća visina, duljina nadlaktice, duljina podlaktice, duljina šake i duljina potkoljenice. Mjerenja su provedena u standardnim uvjetima prema postupcima koje su opisali Claessens i suradnici (1998). Na temelju tih mjera izračunate su proporcijske longitudinalne dimenzije. Pregled varijabli prikazan je u tablici 1. Podaci o vrsti čamca prikupljeni su upitnikom, a podaci o kvalitetnoj razini temeljili su se na rezultatima postignutima na prvenstvu. Međunarodna juniorska veslačka natjecanja standardizirana su na stazi od 2 000 m i podijeljena su u discipline veslanja jednim veslom (rimen) i veslanja na pariće (skul). Te se veslačke tehnike međusobno dosta razlikuju – veslač u čamcu rimen, dakle, vesla samo jednim veslom, dok skuleri koriste dva kraća vesla koja povlače istodobno. Izračunati su parametri deskriptivne statistike (aritmetička sredina, standardna devijacija i raspon) za sve varijable i za ukupni uzorak veslača. Za usporedbu proporcijskih odnosa između rimen veslača i skul veslača te finalista i onih koji se nisu plasirali u finale upotrijebljen je Studentov t-test za nezavisne uzorke. Analiza varijance (ANOVA) i post-hoc Tukeyjev test primijenjeni su da bi se otkrile razlike u proporcionalnosti među veslačima u raznim vrstama čamaca. Za statističke analize korišten je računalni program Statistical Analysis System. Svi su testovi bili dvostruki, a značajnom se smatrala razlika na razini od p<0.05. Rezultati Deskriptivna statistika prikazana je u tablici 3. U tablici su uspoređene proporcije veslača u rimenu i skulu. Rimen veslači bili su značajno viši i teži od skulera. Kada su se longitudinalne dimenzije dovele u proporcijski odnos prema tjelesnoj visini, nisu primijećene značajne razlike između te dvije vrste veslača. Slični su se rezultati dobili i u usporedbi finalista i ne-finalista (tablica 5). Prema rezultatima analize varijance (tablica 6) razlike između dva stila veslanja (rimen nasuprot skul) nađene su između dvojca sa (2+) i četverca sa (4+), s jedne strane, te samca (1x), četverca na pariće (4x) i dvojca bez (2-), s druge strane. Sportaši koji veslaju u dvojcu sa (2+) i četvercu sa (4+) bili su, u prosjeku, teži i viši od veslača u samcu (1x), četvercu na pariće (4x) i dvojcu bez (2-). Nisu dobivene razlike u proporcijskim odnosima longitudinalnih dimenzija prema vrsti čamaca. U tablici 7 predstavljen je model profila proporcijskih odnosa longitudinalnih dimenzija za veslače juniore koji su nastupili na FISA svjetskom juniorskom veslačkom prvenstvu. Rasprava i zaključak Rezultati pokazuju da su promatrani veslači teži i viši te da imaju veću sjedeću visinu i duže noge od opće populacije. Finalisti su imali značajno veće longitudinalne dimenzije od ne-finalista, a rimen veslači su općenito imali veće longitudinalne dimenzije od skulera. Nisu, međutim, dobivene razlike kada su longitudinalne dimenzije postavljene u proporcijski odnos prema tjelesnoj visini. Veslanje je sport izdržljivosti i longitudinalne dimenzije su nedvojbeno povezane s uspješnošću. Duge noge pojačavaju potisak u fazi provlaka tijekom veslačkog zaveslaja, što znači da su veslači s dugim nogama u biomehaničkoj prednosti. Usporedba tjelesnih proporcija izmjerenih veslača juniora s vrijednostima o kojima su izvijestili drugi autori (Carter i dr., 1982; Rodriguez, 1986) otkriva da veslači juniori imaju manju sjedeću visinu u odnosu na ukupnu tjelesnu visinu ili stas (Valoisov indeks) (51,6%) i veću duljinu nogu u odnosu na stas (48,4%) od normativne usporedne skupine (Ostyn i dr., 1980) (52,1% i 47,9%) i od teških olimpijskih veslača (Carter i dr, 1982) (52,1% i 47,.9%). Nisu dobivene razlike između veslača juniora i vrhunskih lakih veslača (51,5% i 48,5%). Može se zaključiti da su kvalitetniji veslači uglavnom viši i, povezano s tom razlikom, imaju veće longitudinalne dimenzije od manje uspješnih veslača, ali se oni ne razlikuju međusobno kada se te vrijednosti izraze proporcionalno u odnosu na njihovu tjelesnu visinu. Uočene su razlike između rimen veslača i skul veslača – rimen veslači su višega stasa i imaju veće apsolutne vrijednosti longitudinalnih dimenzija. Uz to što je izrađen profil veslača juniora, rezultati ove studije mogu pomoći trenerima i kineziolozima da steknu bolji uvid u to koje su morfološke karakteristike povezane s uspješnošću u veslanju. Rezultati se također mogu primijeniti za određenje antropometrijskog profila veslača i kao instrument za selekciju dječaka talentiranih za veslanje.Die Leistung der leistungsstärksten Ruderer ist unter anderem von ihren körperlichen Eigenschaften bestimmt. Körperbaudaten für erwachsene Ruderer stellen den Nachdruck auf die Wichtigkeit des Körpergewichts und der Körperhöhe für das Rudern. Es bleibt noch unklar, wie wichtig die proportionale Längenzunahme ist. Während der Junioren Weltmeisterschaften im 1997 wurden die Körperbau-Messungen (Körpergewicht und 6 Extremitätenlängen) auf 383 leistungsstärksten Junioren-Ruderer vorgenommen. Auf Grund dieser Messungen einige proportionale Extremitätenlängen wurden berechnet. Die Angaben über die Bootsgat-tung wurden einem Fragebogen entnommen, während die Angaben über dem Wettkampf-Niveau auf den während der Meisterschaft gewonnenen Ergebnissen basierten. Den Ergebnissen nach wogen diese Ruderer mehr (Mittelwert = 82,2±7,4 kg), sie waren größer (Mittelwert = 187,4±5,8 cm) und hatten eine größere Sitzhöhe (Mittelwert = 96,8±3,2 cm) und längere Beine (Mittelwert = 90,7±3,8 cm) als die Referenz-Grundgesamtheit. Die Finalisten hatten bedeutend größere Extremitätenlängenwerte als die Nicht-Finalisten, während die Riemenruderer im allgemeinen größere Extremitätenlängenwerte hatten als die Skuller. Keine Unterschiede waren zu merken, wenn die Extremitätenlängenwerte proportional der Körperhöhe der Ruderer dargestellt wurden. Daraus lässt sich schließen, dass die leistungsstärksten Junioren größere Extremitätenlängenwerte haben im Vergleich zu den weniger erfolgreichen Ruderern, aber diese Spitzensportler unterscheiden sich keineswegs von weniger erfolgreichen Sportlern im Bezug auf die proportionale Längenzunahme. Die Unterschiede sind bei den Riemenruderern und den Skullern zu merken, wobei die Skuller größere Extremitätenlängenwerte aufzeigen

Tracking of fatness during childhood, adolescence and young adulthood: a 7-year follow-up study in Madeira Island, Portugal

Aims: Investigating tracking of fatness from childhood to adolescence, early adolescence to young adulthood and late adolescence to young adulthood. Subjects and methods: Participants from the Madeira Growth Study were followed during an average period of 7.2 years. Height, body mass, skin-folds and circumferences were measured, nine health- and performance-related tests were administered and the Baecke questionnaire was used to assess physical activity. Skeletal maturity was estimated using the TW3 method. Results: The prevalence of overweight plus obesity ranged from 8.2–20.0% at baseline and from 20.4–40.0% at followup, in boys. Corresponding percentages for girls were 10.6– 12.0% and 13.2–18.0%. Inter-age correlations for fatness indicators ranged from 0.43–0.77. BMI, waist circumference and sum of skin-folds at 8, 12 and 16-years old were the main predictors of these variables at 15, 19 and 23-years old, respectively. Strength, muscular endurance and aerobic fitness were negatively related to body fatness. Physical activity and maturation were independently associated with adolescent (15 years) and young adult (19 years) fatness. Conclusions: Over 7.2 years, tracking was moderate-to-high for fatness. Variance was explained by fatness indicators and to a small extent by physical fitness, physical activity and maturation

Genetic regulation of body size and morphology in children: a twin study of 22 anthropometric traits

Background Anthropometric measures show high heritability, and genetic correlations have been found between obesity-related traits. However, we lack a comprehensive analysis of the genetic background of human body morphology using detailed anthropometric measures. Methods Height, weight, 7 skinfold thicknesses, 7 body circumferences and 4 body diameters (skeletal breaths) were measured in 214 pairs of twin children aged 3–18 years (87 monozygotic pairs) in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Portugal. Factor analysis (Varimax rotation) was used to analyze the underlying structure of body physique. Genetic twin modeling was used to estimate genetic and environmental contributions to the variation and co-variation of the anthropometric traits. Results Together, two factors explained 80% of the variation of all 22 anthropometric traits in boys and 73% in girls. Obesity measures (body mass index, skinfold thickness measures, as well as waist and hip circumferences) and limb circumferences loaded most strongly on the first factor, whereas height and body diameters loaded especially on the second factor. These factors as well as all anthropometric measures showed high heritability (80% or more for most of the traits), whereas the rest of the variation was explained by environmental factors not shared by co-twins. Obesity measures showed high genetic correlations (0.75–0.98). Height showed the highest genetic correlations with body diameter measures (0.58–0.76). Correlations between environmental factors not shared by co-twins were weaker than the genetic correlations but still substantial. The correlation patterns were roughly similar in boys and girls. Conclusions Our results show high genetic correlations underlying the human body physique, suggesting that there are sets of genes widely affecting anthropometric traits. Better knowledge of these genetic variants can help to understand the development of obesity and other features of the human physique.The project “Genetic and environmental influences on physical activity, fitness and health: the Madeira family study” was supported by FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (The Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology), reference POCI/DES/56834/2004. Open Access funding provided by University of Helsinki including Helsinki University Central Hospital