Muscular strength and markers of insulin resistance in European adolescents: the HELENA Study

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the association of muscular strength with markers of insulin resistance in European adolescents. The study comprised a total of 1,053 adolescents (499 males; 12.5-17.5 years) from ten European cities participating in the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) Cross-Sectional Study. Muscular strength was measured by the handgrip strength and standing long jump tests. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured by the 20-m shuttle run test. Fasting insulin and glucose were measured and the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) indices were calculated. Weight, height, waist circumference and skinfold thickness were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. In males, the handgrip strength and standing long jump tests were negatively associated with fasting insulin and HOMA (all P < 0.05) after controlling for pubertal status, country and BMI or waist circumference. When skinfold thickness was included in the model, the association became non-significant. In females, the standing long jump test was negatively associated with fasting insulin and HOMA (all P < 0.001) after controlling for pubertal status, country and surrogate markers of total or central body fat (BMI, waist circumference or skinfold thickness). Findings were retained in males, but not in females after controlling for cardiorespiratory fitness. The findings of the present study suggest that preventive strategies should focus not only on decreasing fatness and increasing cardiorespiratory fitness but also on enhancing muscular strength.

Inverse association between circulating adiponectin levels and skeletal muscle strength in Japanese men and women

“…For ANCOVA, adiponectin levels were categorized into quartiles based on the distribution of adiponectin concentrations, and geometric mean values were used to test for linear trends in increasing quartiles. A secondary analysis was performed to evaluate the associations between serum adiponectin and muscle strength relative to body weight [22]. All statistical tests were twotailed; p values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.…”

Establishing Normative Reference Values for Handgrip Among Hungarian Youth

“…These associations (with exception of hip bone mass in boys and whole-body bone mass in girls) remained even after controlling for weight, height, pubertal stage, weight-bearing activities, and calcium intake (Chan et al, 2008). Other studies have shown positive associations between handgrip strength and cardiometabolic profiles and therefore suggest that muscle strength might have an important role in the prevention of both functional status and cardiovascular disease (Jimenez-Pavon et al, 2012;Ortega, Ruiz, Castillo, & Sjostrom, 2008).…”

Concurrent aerobic plus resistance exercise versus aerobic exercise alone to improve health outcomes in paediatric obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…In addition, this organisation encourages engagement in regular bone-strengthening and muscle-strengthening activities on at least 3 days of the week 6 7. In the obese paediatric population, both aerobic exercise training (AT) and resistance exercise training (RT) improve low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) concentrations,8 systolic blood pressure (SBP),9 flow-mediated dilation,10 fasting insulin and glucose,11 and body composition 12…”