AUTHOR=Dring Karah J. , Cooper Simon B. , Morris John G. , Sunderland Caroline , Foulds Gemma A. , Pockley Alan Graham , Nevill Mary E. TITLE=Multi-Stage Fitness Test Performance, V˙O2 Peak and Adiposity: Effect on Risk Factors for Cardio-Metabolic Disease in Adolescents JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology VOLUME=10 YEAR=2019 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2019.00629 DOI=10.3389/fphys.2019.00629 ISSN=1664-042X ABSTRACT=

The role of physical activity in determining the metabolic health of adolescents is poorly understood, particularly concerning the effect on low-grade chronic inflammation (chronic elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and acute phase protein CRP, which is implicated in the etiology of atherosclerosis) and anti-inflammatory mediators such as IL-10. Furthermore, there is limited information on the mediating effects of performance on the multi-stage fitness test (MSFT), V˙O₂ peak and adiposity on risk factors for cardio-metabolic disease in adolescents.

Purpose: To examine the effect of performance on the MSFT, V˙O₂ peak and adiposity on risk factors for cardio-metabolic diseases in adolescents.

Methods: Following ethical approval, 121 adolescents (11.3 ± 0.8 year) completed the study. Risk factors for cardio-metabolic disease (circulating inflammatory cytokines, blood glucose and plasma insulin concentrations) was assessed using a fasted capillary blood sample. Participants were separated into quartiles based upon distance ran during the MSFT, the blood lactate response to submaximal exercise, V˙O₂ peak (determined during an uphill graded treadmill test), and adiposity (determined as the sum of four skinfolds). The blood lactate response to submaximal exercise and V0₂ peak were measured in a sub-group of participants. Data were analyzed using two-way between-subjects ANCOVA and multiple linear regression.

Results: Participants with the lowest performance on the MSFT had higher blood concentrations of IL-6 (3.25 ± 0.25 pg mL^-1) and IL-1β (4.78 ± 0.54 pg mL^-1) and lower concentrations of IL-10 (1.80 ± 0.27 pg mL^-1) when compared with all other quartiles (all p < 0.05). Yet, when categorized into V˙O₂ peak quartiles, no differences existed in any of the inflammatory mediators (all p > 0.05). Performance on the MSFT was the only predictor of IL-6 (β = -0.291, p = 0.031), IL-1β (β = -0.405, p = 0.005), IL-10 (β = 0.325, p = 0.021) and fasted blood glucose (β = -0.545, p < 0.001) concentrations. Adiposity was the only predictor of plasma insulin concentration (β = 0.515, p < 0.001) and blood pressure (diastolic: β = 0.259, p = 0.042; mean arterial pressure: β = 0.322, p = 0.011).

Conclusion: Enhanced performance on the MSFT, but not V˙O₂ peak, was associated with a favorable inflammatory profile in adolescents; whilst adiposity adversely affected plasma insulin, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure. These findings demonstrate that enhancing performance on the MSFT and maintaining a healthy body composition are a potential therapeutic intervention for the attenuation of risk factors for cardio-metabolic diseases in adolescents.