Table 2.
Gender differences in markers of metabolic and cardiovascular risk in adolescent children (mean ± SD) (95%CI).
| Girls | Boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| (n = 129) | (n = 95) | pa | |
| Age (year) | 13.48 ± 0.30 (13.43–13.53) | 13.53 ± 0.33 (13.46–13.60) | 0.231 |
| Anthropometry | |||
| Height (cm) | 158.1 ± 6.7 (156.9–159.3) | 160.1 ± 9.0 (158.3–161.9) | 0.056 |
| Waist (cm)b | 65.2 ± 1.1 (63.9–66.6) | 67.7 ± 1.1 (66.0–69.5) | 0.023 |
| Weight (kg) | 53.3 ± 11.0 (51.4–55.2) | 53.2 ± 13.1 (50.5–55.8) | 0.921 |
| WHtR (%)b | 41.3 ± 1.1 (40.5–42.1) | 42.4 ± 1.1 (41.4–43.4) | 0.088 |
| Birth weight (kg) | 3.33 ± 0.36 (3.23–3.43) | 3.52 ± 0.59 (3.40–3.64)b | 0.017 |
| Subscapular SKF (mm)b | 10.8 ± 1.6 (10.0–11.7) | 8.8 ± 1.7 (7.9–9.8) | <0.001 |
| Suprailiac SKF (mm)b | 12.2 ± 1.6 (11.3–13.3) | 9.1 ± 1.9 (8.0–10.4) | <0.001 |
| Triceps SKF (mm)b | 16.1 ± 1.4 (15.1–17.2) | 12.7 ± 1.6 (11.6–13.9) | <0.001 |
| Biceps SKF (mm)b | 10.2 ± 1.5 (9.5–11.0) | 7.9 ± 1.6 (7.1–8.7) | 0.001 |
| 4SKF (mm)b,c | 50.2 ± 1.5 (47.1–53.6) | 39.2 ± 1.6 (35.4–43.4) | <0.001 |
| T/E SKFb,d | 0.87 ± 1.30 (0.84–0.91) | 0.87 ± 1.36 (0.82–0.93) | 0.915 |
| Blood pressure | |||
| Systolic (mmHg) | 115.6 ± 10.1 (113.8–117.3) | 116.8 ± 12.6 (114.2–119.3) | 0.422 |
| Diastolic (mmHg) | 65.7 ± 10.2 (63.9–67.5) | 64.7 ± 11.0 (62.4–66.9) | 0.472 |
| Cardiovascular fitness (laps) | 44.5 ± 1.4 (41.9–47.2) | 62.6 ± 1.4 (58.4–67.0) | <0.001 |
| Biomarkers | |||
| Total cholesterol (mmol/L)b | 4.01 ± 1.15 (3.90–4.12) | 3.76 ± 1.18 (3.63–3.89) | 0.003 |
| LDL cholesterol (mmol/L)b | 1.95 ± 1.33 (1.86–2.05) | 1.81 ± 1.35 (1.70–1.92) | 0.052 |
| HDL cholesterol (mmol/L)b | 1.67 ± 1.21 (1.62–1.73) | 1.60 ± 1.24 (1.53–1.67) | 0.114 |
| Triglycerides (mmol/L)b | 0.71 ± 1.43 (0.66–0.75) | 0.59 ± 1.53 (0.54–0.64) | <0.001 |
| Glucose (mmol/L)b | 4.80 ± 0.27 (4.75–4.85)e | 4.92 ± 0.35 (4.85–4.99)f | 0.006 |
| Insulin (mIU/L)b | 10.02 ± 1.47 (9.37–10.71) | 6.96 ± 1.58 (6.34–7.63) | <0.001 |
| HOMA (insulin×glucose/22.5)b | 2.16 ± 1.49 (2.01–2.32)e | 1.53 ± 1.63 (1.38–1.69)f | <0.001 |
| Fibrinogen (g/L)b | 2.62 ± 1.19 (2.54–2.70)g | 2.63 ± 1.18 (2.54–2.73)g | 0.807 |
| hsCRP (mg/L)b | 0.29 ± 2.19 (0.26–0.34)f | 0.43 ± 2.38 (0.36–0.52) | <0.001 |
| IL-6 (ng/L)b | 0.57 ± 2.09 (0.50–0.64)f | 0.69 ± 2.14 (0.59–0.81)g | 0.047 |
| HMW Adiponectin (mg/L)b | 2.93 ± 1.77 (2.65–3.24)f | 2.11 ± 1.89 (1.85–2.40)g | <0.001 |
Notes: a Unpaired t test girls vs. boys Bonferroni-corrected α = 0.002; b Geometric mean ± SD; c Sum of triceps, subscapular, biceps, and suprailiac SKF; d Ratio of trunk (sum of subscapular and suprailiac)-to-extremity (sum of triceps and biceps) SKF; e Data missing from 3 participants; f Data missing from 2 participants; g Data missing from 1 participant.
Abbreviations: CI = confidence interval; HDL = high-density lipoprotein; HMW = high-molecular weight; HOMA = homeostatic model assessment; hsCRP = high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; IL-6 = interleukin-6; LDL = low-density lipoprotein; SKF = skinfold thickness; T/E SKF = the ratio of trunk-to-extremity skinfold thicknesses; WHtR = waist-to-height ratio.