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Predictors of Vascular Health in Premenopausal Asian Women: Associations with Body Composition, Dietary Intake, and Physical Activity
Location: 13
Mentor: Dr. Arlette Perry
While arterial stiffness is a known risk factor in cardiovascular disease, limited research has examined predictors of vascular health among specific populations. This study explored the impact of body composition and lifestyle predictors on arterial stiffness, measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), augmentation index (AIx%), and mean arterial pressure (MAP), in a group of premenopausal Asian women. A total of 120 apparently healthy, non-smoking volunteers (M = 33 yrs) participated. Using the SphygmoCor XCEL software, cfPWV, AIx, and MAP were obtained. BMI, waist circumference (WC), adiposity, and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were assesed using a SECA bioelectrical impedance device. Nutritional intake was evaluated using a two-day dietary recall. Physical activity was determined using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Correlation analysis and simple linear regression were used to determine predictors. WC, body fat percentage, and VAT were moderately associated with cfPWV (p0.05). These findings suggest that central adiposity may play a more prominent role in predicting vascular health than other factors. Further research should explore longitudinal effects into the postmenopausal years, as well as the discrepancy of sugar intake’s negative association with cfPWV.
