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

J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Jul 19;34(10):1273-1282. doi: 10.1515/jpem-2021-0254. Print 2021 Oct 26.

Abstract

Objectives: Obesity has often been associated with high low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride 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.

Keywords: LDL-cholesterol; children; fat mass; muscle mass; triglycerides.

MeSH terms

  • Absorptiometry, Photon
  • Adipose Tissue / anatomy & histology*
  • Adipose Tissue / pathology
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Body Composition / physiology
  • Cardiometabolic Risk Factors
  • Child
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Muscles / anatomy & histology*
  • Muscles / pathology
  • Nutrition Surveys
  • Organ Size / physiology
  • Pediatric Obesity / blood
  • Pediatric Obesity / pathology
  • Triglycerides / blood*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Triglycerides