Abstract
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the influence of muscular strength
on carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in children, controlling for the effect of
cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and central adiposity and to examine if differences
among muscular strength tertiles translate to physiological differences. We assessed
cIMT of the common carotid artery in 366 children between 11–12 years of age (191
girls). Measures included cIMT assessed with high-resolution ultrasonography, a maximal
handgrip strength test, body fat mass and lean mass from DXA and CRF determined using
a maximal cycle ergometer test. Association between muscular strength and cIMT adjusted
for CRF and central adiposity, as measured by trunk fat, was tested with multiple
linear regression analysis. Differences in risk factors among muscular strength groups
were tested with ANOVA. The Muscular Strength Index (MSI) was inversely associated
with cIMT independently of CRF and central adiposity (p<0.05). The low MSI group had
the highest values of cIMT, waist circumference and systolic blood pressure and the
lowest CRF (p<0.05). There was an inverse and independent association between muscular
strength and cIMT. Low muscular strength was associated with higher levels of cardiovascular
disease risk factors in children.
Key words
handgrip - cardiorespiratory fitness - central adiposity - intima-media thickness