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- Cugino, D, et al.
(author)
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Polymorphisms of matrix metalloproteinase gene and adiposity indices in European children: results of the IDEFICS study.
- 2013
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In: International journal of obesity (2005). - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1476-5497 .- 0307-0565. ; 37, s. 1539-1544
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective:We investigated the relationship between matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3) polymorphisms and adiposity indices in European children of the IDEFICS (Identification and Prevention of Dietary- and Lifestyle-Induced Health Effects in Children and Infants) project.Subjects:A total of 16224 Caucasian children (2-9 years) were recruited into a population-based survey from eight European countries. In all, 4540 children were randomly selected for genetic studies (T0); 3238 children were re-examined 2 years later (T1). Anthropometric measures were collected by standardized protocols at T0 and T1.Results:Six variants of MMP3 gene were genotyped. Homozygotes for the variant A allele of rs646910 and for the H3 haplotype had higher hip circumference (P=0.002 and 0.001; age, sex and country adjusted) at T0. The association remained significant after false discovery rate (FDR) correction. At T1, subjects carrying rs646910 A/A genotype or H3/H3 diplotype showed significantly higher values of body mass index, waist and hip circumference and sum of tricipital and subscapular skinfolds, all associations remaining significant after FDR correction (P=0.020-0.048).Conclusions:We showed for the first time an association between the MMP3 rs646910 variant and indices of adiposity in European children, highlighting the involvement of metalloproteinase genes in adipose tissue remodeling and growth.International Journal of Obesity advance online publication, 12 March 2013; doi:10.1038/ijo.2013.21.
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- De Miguel-Etayo, P, et al.
(author)
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Physical fitness reference standards in European children: the IDEFICS study.
- 2014
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In: International Journal of Obesity. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0307-0565 .- 1476-5497. ; 38:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: A low fitness status during childhood and adolescence is associated with important health-related outcomes, such as increased future risk for obesity and cardiovascular diseases, impaired skeletal health, reduced quality of life and poor mental health. Fitness reference values for adolescents from different countries have been published, but there is a scarcity of reference values for pre-pubertal children in Europe, using harmonised measures of fitness in the literature. The IDEFICS study offers a good opportunity to establish normative values of a large set of fitness components from eight European countries using common and well-standardised methods in a large sample of children. Therefore, the aim of this study is to report sex- and age-specific fitness reference standards in European children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Children (10,302) aged 6-10.9 years (50.7% girls) were examined. The test battery included: the flamingo balance test, back-saver sit-and-reach test (flexibility), handgrip strength test, standing long jump test (lower-limb explosive strength) and 40-m sprint test (speed). Moreover, cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed by a 20-m shuttle run test. Percentile curves for the 1st, 3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, 97th and 99th percentiles were calculated using the General Additive Model for Location Scale and Shape (GAMLSS). RESULTS: Our results show that boys performed better than girls in speed, lower- and upper-limb strength and cardiorespiratory fitness, and girls performed better in balance and flexibility. Older children performed better than younger children, except for cardiorespiratory fitness in boys and flexibility in girls. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide for the first time sex- and age-specific physical fitness reference standards in European children aged 6-10.9 years.
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- Suling, M., et al.
(author)
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Design and results of the pretest of the IDEFICS study
- 2011
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In: International Journal of Obesity. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 0307-0565 .- 1476-5497. ; 35, s. S30-S44
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: During the preparatory phase of the baseline survey of the IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of dietary- and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants) study, standardised survey procedures including instruments, examinations, methods, biological sampling and software tools were developed and pretested for their feasibility, robustness and acceptability. Methods: A pretest was conducted of full survey procedures in 119 children aged 2-9 years in nine European survey centres (N-per (centre) 4-27, mean 13.22). Novel techniques such as ultrasound measurements to assess subcutaneous fat and bone health, heart rate monitors combined with accelerometers and sensory taste perception tests were used. Results: Biological sampling, physical examinations, sensory taste perception tests, parental questionnaire and medical interview required only minor amendments, whereas physical fitness tests required major adaptations. Callipers for skinfold measurements were favoured over ultrasonography, as the latter showed only a low-to-modest agreement with calliper measurements (correlation coefficients of r = -0.22 and r = 0.67 for all children). The combination of accelerometers with heart rate monitors was feasible in school children only. Implementation of the computer-based 24-h dietary recall required a complex and intensive developmental stage. It was combined with the assessment of school meals, which was changed after the pretest from portion weighing to the more feasible observation of the consumed portion size per child. The inclusion of heel ultrasonometry as an indicator of bone stiffness was the most important amendment after the pretest. Discussion: Feasibility and acceptability of all procedures had to be balanced against their scientific value. Extensive pretesting, training and subsequent refinement of the methods were necessary to assess the feasibility of all instruments and procedures in routine fieldwork and to exchange or modify procedures that would otherwise give invalid or misleading results. International Journal of Obesity (2011) 35, S30-S44; doi:10.1038/ijo.2011.33
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