Anthropometric characteristics and indicators of protein-­energy metabolism in adolescent girls with dynamic physical activity

Abstract

Objective — to study the anthropometric characteristics of adolescent girls 12—18 years old, engaged in the have dynamic physical activity, and to determine the indicators of their protein-energy metabolism.
 Materials and methods. Examinations involved 37 girls aged 12—18, who were engaged in the dynamic sports 3­4 times a week for 3—8 years. The comparison group included 34 practically healthy girls of the same age with similar weight and height parameters who were physically inactive. All girls were examined by a pediatrician, an endocrinologist, a gynecologist, and a psychiatrist. The following anthropometric parameters were examined: height, body weight, shoulder width, arm length, arm span, chest girth, leg length, waist circumference, hip circumference, body mass index was calculated. The concentration of urea in blood serum was determined by the fluorometric method, the levels of creatinine, lactate, activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase in the blood serum were determined by the photometric method. The blood analysis of female athletes was carried out after two days of rest after training. Statistical processing of data was carried out with the help of Exсel, SPSS, Statgrafics programs.
 Results and discussion. Low physical activity of adolescent girls was associated with a higher risk of primary dysmenorrhea (OR 3.75; CI 95 %) and the presence of gallbladder folds and deformities (OR 2.34; CI 95 %). No significant differences were revealed in the anthropometric characteristics of the girls with different physical activity. This may indicate the physiological nature of their training regime. Underweight of girls was 1.31 times more likely to be associated with sports (risk ratio (RR) 1.31; CI 95 %), and overweight was 1.45 times more common in adynamic teenagers (RR 1.45; CI 95 %). Levels of urea, creatinine, lactate, activity of ALT, LDH, creatine kinase were significantly higher in group of athletically active girls aged 12—14 than in group of inactive ones, and for athletic girls aged 15—18, the higher levels of alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase were noticed.
 Conclusions. Engagement in the dynamic sports three times a week during 3­8 years does not lead to significant changes in the anthropometric characteristics of adolescent girls compared to physically inactive ones. Sports girls have higher levels of urea, creatinine, lactate, LDH, ALT and creatine kinase, which indicates the intensity of muscle work and the activation of protein­-energy metabolism.