Association of muscle mass and fat mass on low- density-lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride plasma concentration in children and adolescents

Objectives: Obesity has often been associated with high low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycer-ide plasma concentrations, known risk factors for diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Study objective was to evaluate the association of LDL-C and triglyceride plasma concentration with muscle and fat mass in children and adolescents. Methods: We analyzed data of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2004) to estimate lean muscle and fat mass assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of participants whose lipid profiles had been examined. Fat mass was operationalized by DXA-determined fat mass index (FMI). Muscle mass was assessed by appendicular lean mass index (aLMI). High LDL-C and triglyceride concentration was defined as above 130 mg/dL. Results: For the evaluation of the association of LDL-C and triglyceride plasma concentration with LMI and FMI Z-scores, the data of 2,487 children and adolescents (age 8-19 years) (984 females) were eligible. High aLMI showed no association with LDL-C or triglyceride concentration, but high FMI showed significant association with LDL-C and triglyceride plasma concentration in the bivariate regression analysis. Conclusions: Isolated muscle mass increase may not be protective against high LDL-C and triglycerides plasma levels in children and adolescents. Thus, exercise may lead to risk factor reduction mainly through fat mass reduction.

Automated summary

This study aimed to evaluate the association of muscle and fat mass with LDL-C and triglyceride plasma concentration in obese children and adolescents. The results showed a significant association between high fat mass and elevated LDL-C and triglyceride levels, while high muscle mass was not associated with them.