Body fat distribution and early arterial changes in healthy 5-year-old children

Background. It is unknown at what age overweight starts to takes its toll on the vasculature. We studied the relation between body size measures and vascular characteristics in healthy 5-year-old children. Methods. In 306 5-year-old children from an on-going birth cohort, body size characteristics were measured, including sonographic measurement of abdominal fat. Ultrasonographic measurements of the carotid artery were performed to obtain intima-media thickness (CIMT), arterial wall distensibility, and elastic modulus (EM). Results. Increased body-weight was related to thicker CIMT (linear regression coefficient 2.25 mu m/kg; P = 0.003), increased EM (2.73 kPa/kg; P = 0.01), and lower distensibility (-1.23 MPa-1/kg; P = 0.03). Similar relations were found for increased BMI with CIMT and EM. Increased intra-abdominal fat was related to thicker CIMT (9.19 mu m/cm; P = 0.02), and increased waist circumference with thicker CIMT (2.17 mu m/cm; P = 0.02), lower distensibility (-1.70 MPa-1/cm; P = 0.01), and higher EM (2.77 kPa/cm; P = 0.02), independent of BMI. Conclusion. For the first time it is demonstrated that increased general body mass and particularly waist circumference and intra-abdominal fat are related to thicker and stiffer arteries already early in life.