Comparison And Correlation Between Cardiovascular Risk Factors And Skeletal Muscle Mass In Healthy Young Adults

Abstract

It is unclear whether individuals with high skeletal muscle mass may have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. PURPOSE: To ①Compare cardiovascular risk factors between individuals with Standard skeletal Muscle mass Group-Male(SMG-M)/ Female(SMG-F), and High skeletal Muscle Group-Male(HMG-M)/Female(HMG-F) ②Explore the relationship skeletal muscle mass and cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: Fifty Healthy young male(n=27, 23.4±0.4 years old) and female(n=23, 22.1±0.4 years old) were recruited to participate in this study. Body composition of the subjects were measured by a Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis. Depending on the results, they were divided into 2 groups(HMG-M vs. SMG-M, HMG-F vs. SMG-F). Blood pressure, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity(baPWV), and blood analysis [Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol(LDL-C), High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol(HDL-C), Triglycerides(TRG), glucose, HbA1c] were performed. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in the values of skeletal muscle mass Index(SMI) between the two groups [HMG-M vs. SMG-M, SMI(%) 130.5± 1.5 vs. 101.9 ± 1.3, p<.0001; HMG-F vs. SMG-F, SMI(%): 109.0 ± 1.5 vs. 86.2 ± 2.3, p<.0001]. Blood analysis showed that HDL-C was higher in HMG than in SMG [HMG-M vs. SMG-M, (mg/dL): 71.7 ± 4.7 vs 47.5±2.3, p=.0001; HMG-F vs. SMG-F: 79.0 ± 3.8 vs. 54 ± 2.3, p<.0001], whereas LDL-C and TRG levels were comparable in the groups regardless of gender[HMG-M vs. SMG-M, LDL-C(mg/dL): 90.5 ± 12.1 vs 76.2 ± 12.4, p=.427, TRG(mg/dL): 124.0 ± 22.5 vs. 104.5 ± 22.0, p=.549; HMG-F vs. SMG-F, LDL-C: 97.2 ± 8.5 vs. 91.8 ± 6.6, p=.626, TRG: 80.4 ± 15.0 vs. 96.0 ± 14.6, p= .477]. In addition, baPWV did not show significant differences between groups [HMG-M vs. SMG-M, (cm/s): 1129.5 ± 18.2 vs. 1100.0 ± 49.8, p=.589; HMG-F vs. SMG-F, 1001.7 ± 41.4 vs. 997.0 ± 73.2, p= .957]. Interestingly, HDL cholesterol levels are associated with SMI in young adults(Male, r =.640, p=.001; Female, r = .583, p<.01). CONCLUSIONS: In both male and female groups, HDL was significantly higher in HMG than in SMG, and a significant correlation was found between skeletal muscle mass index and HDL cholesterol. These results suggest that an increase in skeletal muscle mass may have an additive benefit on a cardiovascular risk factor, especially HDL cholesterol level.