Muscle strength and its association with cardiometabolic variables in adolescents:does the expression of muscle strength values matter?

Background We investigate the association between different muscle strength(MS)indices with cardiometabolic variables in adolescents.Methods Cross-sectional study comprising 351 adolescents(male 44.4%,age 16.6±1.0 years)from Brazil.MS was assessed by handgrip strength and analyzed in live difrerent ways:absolute MS and MS normalized for body weight,body mass index(BMI),height,and fat mass,respectively.Cardiometabolic variables investigated as outcomes were systolic and diastolic blood pressure(DBP),waist circumference(WC),high-sensitive C-reactive protein(hs-CRP),lipid and glucose metabolism markers.Multiple linear regression models adjusted for confounding factors were used.Results Absolute MS and/or MS normalized for height was directly associated with WC[up to 32.8 cm.standard error(SE)=4.7]and DBP(up to 8.8 mmHg,SE=0.8),and inversely associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(up to-8.0 mg/dL.SE=14.1).MS normalized for body weight.BMI or fat inass was inversely associated with WC(up to-17.5 cm,SE=2.2).According tesex,MS normalized for fat mass was inversely associated with triglycerides(male:0.02 times lower,SE=0.01;female:0.05 times lower,SE=0.01)and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance(male:0.02 times lower,SE=0.01;female:0.06 times lower.SE=0.01).and inversely associated with hs-CRP only among male(0.03 times lower,SE=0.01).Conclusion When normalized for body weight,BMI or fat mass,MS was superior to absolute MS or MS normalized for height in representing adequately cardiometabolic variables among adolescents.