Body fat evolution as predictor of retinal microvasculature in children

• Published in: International Journal of Obesity Vol. 41; no. 4; pp. 527 - 532
• Main Authors: Van Aart, C J C, Michels, N, Sioen, I, De Decker, A, Nawrot, T S, De Henauw, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 01.04.2017
• Subjects: Adipose tissues; Aging; Analysis; Belgium - epidemiology; Birth weight; Blood pressure; Blood Pressure - physiology; Body composition; Body fat; Body mass; Body Mass Index; Body size; Body weight; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - physiopathology; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Child; Child, Preschool; Childhood obesity; Children; Children & youth; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demographic aspects; Disease Progression; Equivalence; Exercise; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Health aspects; Health care; Health sciences; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Measurement; Microvasculature; Microvessels - pathology; Multivariable control; Obesity; Overweight; Pediatric Obesity - complications; Pediatric Obesity - physiopathology; Pediatric Obesity - prevention & control; Physical activity; Predictive Value of Tests; Public health; Regression analysis; Retina; Retinal diseases; Retinal Vessels - pathology; Retinal Vessels - physiopathology; Risk factors; Software; Weight Gain - physiology; White people; Belgium
• ISSN: 0307-0565; 1476-5497
• DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2016.226

Microvascular changes may represent an underlying mechanism through which overweight contributes to cardiovascular disease development. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether changes in children's body fat over time are associated with the retinal microvasculature, a marker of cardiovascular aging. In a longitudinal design, 171 healthy Flemish children (53.8% boys) were followed-up for 7 years (2008-2015), aged 2.7-8.1 years at baseline.Z-scores of body mass index (zBMI; 4.1% overweight), waist circumference (zWC) and fat mass index (zFMI by BODPOD) were obtained using standardized protocols during each visit. Retinal arteriolar (central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE)) and venular equivalents (central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE)) were measured from digital retinal photographs (2015) using IVAN software. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between changes in body fat and retinal microvasculature were explored using multivariable regression analysis, while controlling for age, sex, mean arterial pressure, alternate retinal caliber, physical activity, diet and birth weight. In cross-sectional analysis, children with high zFMI had a higher CRVE, but only in boys (β=0.25, P=0.02). In addition, boys with high zFMI had also a lower CRAE to CRVE ratio (β=-0.26, P=0.03). No associations were seen with the CRAE, or between zBMI or zWC and the retinal microvasculature. Only changes in zFMI over time were found to be positively associated with the CRVE in boys (β=0.38, P=0.01). Our analysis over a 7-year period shows that changes in body fat during childhood are already associated with the CRVE (especially in boys).