The Evaluation of Fat-to-Muscle Ratio from the Cardiometabolic Risk Perspectives in Morbid Obese Children

Authors: Mustafa M. Donma

Abstract:

Fat mass/percentage is a valuable parameter commonly used in obesity studies. Muscle mass, a component of lean body mass, is negatively associated with the degree of obesity. These features make body’s fat mass-to-skeletal muscle mass ratio is a strong anthropometric marker, providing information about two opposing body compartments. Combing this ratio with the alanine aminotransferase-to-aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST) ratio may offer meaningful insights during the evaluation of morbid obese children, both from a cardiometabolic risk perspective and regarding their tendency towards MetS development. The aim of this study was to determine the possible involvement of fat-to-muscle ratio (FMR) as a predictor in studies aimed at preventing the development of MetS in children with morbid obesity. 132 children, comprising children with normal body mass index (N-BMI) (n = 35) and morbid obesity (n = 97), participated in the study. Institutional Ethical Committee approval as well as informed consent forms were taken. World Health Organization tables were used for the constitution of two groups. None of the participants had MetS findings. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure measurements, biochemical analysis, bioelectrical impedance analysis were performed. Within this context, body weight, height, waist/hip/head/neck circumferences, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), insulin, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, as well as fat and muscle percentages were determined. FMR, body mass index, ALT/AST ratio, and advanced diagnostic obesity notation model assessment cardiac index (ADCI) were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. There were twofold increases for FMRs obtained from total, trunk, and upper and lower extremities in the MO group compared to the values given for children with N-BMI. A significant performance difference was observed between the ALT/AST ratio and ADCI. In the MO group, twice and five times the values were obtained for the ALT/AST ratio and ADCI, respectively, in comparison to the values found for the N-BMI group. Positive correlations were calculated between total FMR and SBP, DBP as well as ADCI. In conclusion, these findings may signify the possible danger of future MetS and cardiovascular diseases in children with morbid obesity.

Keywords: Cardiac index, diastolic blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, morbid obese children, systolic blood pressure.

References:

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