Refereed journal article or data article (A1)
Childhood cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness and adult measures of glucose homeostasis
List of Authors: Brooklyn J. Fraser, Leigh Blizzard, Michael D. Schmidt, Markus Juonala, Terence Dwyer, Alison J. Venn, Costan G. Magnussen
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Publication year: 2018
Journal: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
Journal name in source: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
Volume number: 21
Issue number: 9
Start page: 935
End page: 940
Number of pages: 6
ISSN: 1440-2440
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2018.02.002
Objectives
To assess whether childhood cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular fitness phenotypes (strength, power, endurance) predict adult glucose homeostasis measures.
Design
Prospective longitudinal study.
Methods
Study examining participants who had physical fitness measured in childhood (aged 7–15 years) and who attended follow-up clinics approximately 20 years later and provided a fasting blood sample which was tested for glucose and insulin. Physical fitness measurements included muscular strength (right and left grip, shoulder flexion, shoulder and leg extension), power (standing long jump distance) and endurance (number of push-ups in 30 s), and CRF (1.6 km run duration). In adulthood, fasting glucose and insulin levels were used to derive glucose homeostasis measures of insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) and beta cell function (HOMA2-β).
Results
A standard deviation increase in childhood CRF or muscular strength (males) was associated with fasting glucose (CRF: β = −0.06 mmol/L), fasting insulin (CRF: β = −0.73 mU/L; strength: β = −0.40 mU/L), HOMA2-IR (CRF: β = −0.06; strength: β = −0.05) and HOMA2-β (CRF: β = −3.06%; strength: β = −2.62%) in adulthood, independent of the alternative fitness phenotype (all p < 0.01). Adjustment for childhood waist circumference reduced the effect by 17–35% for CRF and 0–15% for muscular strength (males) and statistical significance remained for all associations expect between CRF, fasting glucose and HOMA2-β (p > 0.06).
Conclusions
CRF and muscular fitness in childhood were inversely associated with measures of fasting insulin, insulin resistance and beta cell function in adulthood. Childhood CRF and muscular fitness could both be potential independent targets for strategies to help reduce the development of adverse glucose homeostasis.