[Muscular fitness and cardiometabolic risk factors among Colombian young adults]

Objective: To determine the influence of muscular fitness (MF) on cardiometabolic risk factors in young adult.

Methods: A total of 172 men (age 19.7±2.4 years; weight 65.5±10.7 kg; BMI 22.6±2.8 kg•m(-1)) were invited to participate in the study. They had no indication of cardiometabolic problems, as evaluated by clinical interview. MF was measured by isometric handgrip (dynamometer). The handgrip strength was divided by body mass was used in further analysis. Lower and higher MF values are represented by the first and fourth quartiles, respectively. A lipid-metabolic cardiovascular risk index was derived from the levels of triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), and glucose. Adiposity index were assessed by measuring, waist circumference (WC), body adiposity index (BAI), body mass index (BMI) and fat mass (%).

Results: After adjustment for age, BMI and WC, inverse association was observed between fat mass, WC, cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c and MF (p<0.05). In addition, subjects with low handgrip strength/kg body mass(Q1), shower high levels of fat mass, WC, cholesterol, HDL-c and LDL-c (p<0.05 linear). Lasted, a linear relationship was also observed between the MF/kg and the lipid-metabolic index (p<0.05).

Conclusions: In Colombian young adult poorer hand-grip strength/kg body mass were associated with worse metabolic risk factors and adiposity index. Increasing muscle strength could be an appropriate strategy to achieve favorable changes in metabolic risk profile.