Horm Metab Res 2006; 38(12): 832-837
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-956503
Original Clinical

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Serum Lipids, Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference during Pubertal Development in Spanish Adolescents: The AVENA Study

J. R. Ruiz 1 , 2 , F. B. Ortega 1 , 2 , B. Tresaco 3 , J. Wärnberg 2 , 4 , J. L. Mesa 1 , M. González-Gross 1 , 5 , L. A. Moreno 3 , A. Marcos 4 , A. Gutiérrez 1 , M. J. Castillo 1 , The AVENA Study Group6
  • 1Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
  • 2Unit for Preventive Nutrition, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition at NOVUM, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
  • 3E. U. Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
  • 4Grupo Inmunonutrición, Departamento de Nutrición y Metabolismo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
  • 5Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain
  • 6AVENA Study Group: Coordinator: A. Marcos, Madrid; Main Investigators: M. J. Castillo, Granada; A. Marcos, Madrid; S. Zamora, Murcia; M. García Fuentes, Santander; M. Bueno, Zaragoza, Spain
    Granada: M. J. Castillo, M. D. Cano, R Sola (Biochemistry); A. Gutiérrez, J. L. Mesa, J. R. Ruiz (Physical fitness); M. Delgado, P. Tercedor, P. Chillón (Physical activity); F. B. Ortega, M. Martín, F. Carreño, G. V. Rodríguez, R. Castillo, F. Arellano (Collaborators); Universidad de Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain
    Madrid: A. Marcos, M. González-Gross, J. Wärnberg, S. Medina, F. Sánchez Muniz, E. Nova, A. Montero, B. de la Rosa, S. Gómez, S. Samartín, J. Romeo, R. Álvarez, (Coordination, immunology); A. Álvarez (Cytometric analysis); L. Barrios (Statistical analysis); A. Leyva, B. Payá (Psychological assessment); L. Martínez, E. Ramos, R. Ortiz, A. Urzanqui (Collaborators); Instituto de Nutrición y Bromatología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
    Murcia: S. Zamora, M. Garaulet, F. Pérez-Llamas, J. C. Baraza, J. F. Marín, F. Pérez de Heredia, M. A. Fernández, C. González, R. García, C. Torralba, E. Donat, E. Morales, M. D. García, J. A. Martínez, J. J. Hernández, A. Asensio, F. J. Plaza, M. J. López (Diet analysis); Dpto. Fisiología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
    Santander: M. García Fuentes, D. González-Lamuño, P. de Rufino, R. Pérez-Prieto, D. Fernández, T. Amigo (Genetic study); Dpto. Pediatría, Universidad de Cantabria, 19003 Santander, Spain
    Zaragoza: M. Bueno, L. A. Moreno, A. Sarriá, J. Fleta, G. Rodríguez, C. M. Gil, M. I. Mesana, J. A. Casajús, V. Blay, M. G. Blay (Anthropometric assessment); Escuela Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Further Information

Publication History

Received 6 April 2006

Accepted after revision 10 July 2006

Publication Date:
12 December 2006 (online)

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Abstract

Aim: To describe the effects of chronological age and biological age (pubertal development) on serum lipid and lipoprotein levels, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference in Spanish adolescents. Methods: A representative Spanish sample of 526 adolescents (254 males and 272 females), were studied. Total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), triglycerides, apolipoprotein A1 and B, and lipoprotein(a) were measured, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) was calculated. Additional measurements included BMI and waist circumference. Adolescents were classified according to chronological age, and pubertal development (also age of menarche in females). Results: In males, serum TC levels were lower at late puberty in comparison with early puberty, and serum LDLc levels were lower at late puberty in comparison with mid and early puberty. Serum HDLc levels were lower at mid puberty in comparison with early and late puberty. Serum TC and LDLc levels were not different when analyzed according to chronological age. In females, HDLc levels were lower at late puberty in comparison with early and mid puberty, but no differences were found when HDLc and the other studied lipid and lipoprotein variables were analyzed according to chronological age, or age of menarche. All the observed differences persisted after adjusting for BMI and waist circumference. In female adolescents, both BMI and waist circumference were higher at late puberty in comparison with early and mid puberty, while in males, BMI and waist circumference were different when analyzed according to chronological age. Conclusion: The results suggest that the assessment of pubertal development may provide additional valuable information when interpreting lipid profile and body fat in adolescents.