Body composition is a strong predictor of local carotid stiffness in Swedish, young adults – the cross sectional Lifestyle, biomarkers, and atherosclerosis study

Abstract

Background Obesity has nearly tripled worldwide during the last four decades, especially in young adults, and is of growing concern since it is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). We explored how different body composition measurements are associated with intima media thickness (cIMT) and local stiffness in the common carotid artery, in a subsample of healthy, young women and men, from the Swedish Lifestyle, Biomarkers, and Atherosclerosis (LBA) Study. Methods From the LBA study, a subsample of 220 randomly selected, self-reported healthy individuals, 18–25 years old, were collected for the automatized local stiffness measurements; arterial distensibility, Young’s elastic modulus, and β stiffness index. Blood pressure and mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured using automatic blood pressure equipment. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated, waist circumference was measured, and percentage of body fat assessed using an impedance body composition analyzer. The carotid artery was scanned by ultrasound and analyzed using B-mode edge wall tracking. cIMT was measured and local stiffness measurements were calculated with carotid blood pressure, measured with applanation tonometry. Results No association was found between cIMT and body composition. Local carotid stiffness was associated with body composition, and women had less stiff arteries than men ( p < 0.001). Of the local stiffness measurements, arterial distensibility had the strongest associations with body composition measurements in both women and men ( p < 0.05). Multiple regression analyses showed that BMI in women and BMI and percentage of body fat in men had the highest impact on arterial distensibility ( p < 0.01 in both women and men). Conclusions Arterial distensibility was the local stiffness measurement with the strongest associations to different body composition measurements, in both women and men. In this age group, body composition measurements seem to be stronger predictors of common carotid arterial stiffness than MAP, and is a convenient way of detecting young adults who need cardiovascular risk follow-up and lifestyle counseling.

Ultra-high frequency ultrasound delineated changes in carotid and muscular artery intima-media and adventitia thickness in obese early middle-aged women

“…Previous studies have shown a significant decrease in carotid distensibility associated with BMI, but they calculated distensibility using lumen diameter, not area, leading to a negative association between distensibility and lumen size. 14 …”

Reactive Hyperemia-Triggered Wrist Pulse Analysis for Early Monitoring of Young Men with High Atherosclerotic Risk

“…On the other hand, the health-enhancing impact of physical activity on cardiovascular function has been highlighted in healthy young adults aged 18-25 [31]. The findings in [32] also provided evidence for enhanced bioavailable curcumin improving homocysteine and high-density lipoprotein concentrations, which may promote favorable cardiovascular health in young (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35) obese men (body mass index ≥ 30.0 kg/m 2 ), in which endothelial function was assessed with the reactive hyperemia index. Furthermore, the endothelial function assessment for vascular relaxation is represented by the quantification of reactive hyperemia (RH) [24], and was validated for type 2 diabetics in [23].…”

Vascular hemodynamics and blood pressure differences between young and older women

“…Studies have shown body composition measures to be strong predictors of arterial stiffness in young adults [ 17 ] and a regression in arterial stiffness has been seen with weight loss in both obese and nonobese individuals [ 18 ]. Participants for this study were matched for height and weight, so that BMI would not confound blood pressure measures.…”

“…The association between aging and blood pressure is complex. It is well known that aging [ 7 – 9 ] and other factors such as excess food intake [ 18 , 33 ], shift in fat distribution [ 27 ], and lack of exercise [ 14 ], affect vascular hemodynamics but what are less known are factors that decrease this progression. This emphasizes the importance of studies with the goal of continuing to learn about this association and ways to decrease the prevalence of hypertension [ 29 ].…”