Cross-sectional and prospective associations between aerobic fitness and lipoprotein particle profile in a cohort of Norwegian schoolchildren. (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jones, Paul Remy; Rajalahti, Tarja; Resaland, Geir Kåre; Aadland, Eivind; Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred; Bathen, Tone Frost; Andreassen, Trygve; Kvalheim, Olav Martin; Ekelund, Ulf
• Is Part Of: Atherosclerosis. Volume 321(2021)
• Page Start: 21
• Page End: 29
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: Lipoproteins -- Metabolomics -- Fitness -- Children -- Adiposity; Arteriosclerosis -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.136
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2021.02.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9150

Abstract

Abstract: Background and aims: The associations between aerobic fitness and traditional measures of lipid metabolism in children are uncertain. We investigated whether higher levels of aerobic fitness benefit lipoprotein metabolism by exploring associations with a comprehensive lipoprotein particle profile. Methods: In our prospective cohort study, we used targeted proton nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR) spectroscopy to profile 57 measures of lipoprotein metabolism from fasting serum samples of 858 fifth-grade Norwegian schoolchildren (49.0% girls; mean age 10.0 years). Aerobic fitness was measured using an intermittent shuttle run aerobic fitness test. We used multiple linear regression adjusted for potential confounders to examine cross-sectional and prospective associations between aerobic fitness and lipoprotein particle profile. Results: Higher levels of aerobic fitness were associated with a favourable lipoprotein particle profile in the cross-sectional analysis, which included inverse associations with all measures of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles (e.g., −0.06 mmol·L −1 or –0.23 SD units; 95% CI = −0.31, −0.16 for VLDL cholesterol concentration). In the prospective analysis, the favourable pattern of associations persisted, though the individual associations tended to be more consistent with those of the cross-sectional analysis for the VLDL subclass measures compared to the low-density lipoproteins and high-density lipoproteins. Adjustment for adiposity attenuated the associations in both cross-sectional and prospective models. Nevertheless, an independent effect of aerobic fitness remained for some measures. Conclusions: Improving children's aerobic fitness levels should benefit lipoprotein metabolism, though a concomitant reduction in adiposity would likely potentiate this effect. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Associations between aerobic fitness and lipoprotein particle profile were examined in a cohort of Norwegian schoolchildren. Aerobic fitness was favourably associated cross-sectionally and prospectively with a number of lipoprotein measures. The associations tended to be stronger with measures of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles and triglycerides concentrations.