Research article summary (published 30 Oct 2007):

Cardiovascular fitness in adolescents: the influence of sexual maturation status-the AVENA and EYHS studies.

Full Abstract

The purposes were: (1) to determine the influence of sexual maturation status and body composition by comparing cardiovascular fitness (CVF) level in two adolescent populations from the south and the north of Europe; (2) to describe the associations between CVF and sexual maturation status in adolescence. A total of 1,867 Spanish adolescents from the AVENA study and 472 from the Swedish part of the EYHS were selected for this report (aged 14-16 years). CVF (expressed by the maximal oxygen consumption) was estimated from 20 m shuttle run test in the AVENA study and from a maximal ergometer cycle test in the EYHS. Sexual maturation status was classified according to Tanner stages. Body fat percentage (BF%) was estimated from skinfold thicknesses. Expressing CVF in different ways (in absolute value and in relation to weight or fat free mass; FFM) resulted in two different results with regard to CVF interpretation and comparison between the study populations. A higher CVF, as expressed in relation to FFM, was observed in the Spanish when compared to Swedish adolescents (P = 0.001). However, after adjusting for both sexual maturation status and BF%, the difference disappeared in males, while it remained significant in females (P = 0.001). CVF was negatively associated with sexual maturation status in males (P = 0.001). However, after adjusting for BF%, the association disappeared in males, while it was significant in females (P = 0.05). These results suggest that for CVF comparisons and interpretation in adolescent populations, sexual maturation status and BF%, as well as the way to express the CVF, should be taken into account. Copyright 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Author information

Author/s: Ortega, Francisco B (FB); Ruiz, Jonatan R (JR); Mesa, Jose L (JL); Gutiérrez, Angel (A); Sjöström, Michael (M);

Affiliation: Unit for Preventive Nutrition, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition at NOVUM, Karolinska Institutet, 14157 Huddinge, Sweden. ortegaf(-atsign-)ugr.es

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council (Am J Hum Biol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2007 Nov-Dec; vol 19 (issue 6) : pp 801-8

Dates: Created 2007/10/15; Completed 2008/01/25; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 17712790, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adipose Tissue - metabolism Adolescent Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena Anthropometry Body Composition Body Weight Cardiovascular System Exercise Test Female

Female Humans Male Oxygen Consumption Physical Fitness - physiology Sexual Maturation - physiology Skinfold Thickness Spain Sweden

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