COMPARISON OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS IN JAPANESE-AMERICAN AND NATIVE JAPANESE CHILDREN

Abstract

850 Among industrialized nations, America has one of the highest death rates due to cardiovascular disease (CVD), while Japan has one of the lowest. This study compared cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF), nutrient intake, health-related physical fitness, and physical activity (PA) levels in 14 Japanese-American children (JAC) living in the United States and 14 sex- and age-matched Japanese children (JC) living in Japan. The collection of data included evaluation of physical characteristics, blood pressure, percent body fat, serum lipid and lipoproteins, nutrient intake, health-related physical fitness, and PA levels. All data, except for PA, was initially analyzed using a multivariate analysis. If significant differences were identified, univariate t-tests were performed to isolate those variables. Plot GLM analysis was used to evaluate PA data. JAC had significantly higher values for weight (p < 0.05), body mass index (p < 0.05), waist to hip ratio (p< 0.05), and percent body fat (p < 0.05). Serum lipid and lipoprotein profiles showed JAC had significantly higher total cholesterol (p <.01), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.05), and triglycerides (p < 0.01) compared to JC. JAC consumed a higher percentage of Calories as total fat, saturated fat, and unsaturated fat, and lower intake of carbohydrates (p< 0.05) than JC. JAC performed better in the sit- and reach- test (p < 0.01); however, they performed significantly lower than JC in the vertical jump test (p < 0.05). In conclusion, JC were in better condition with regard to CVRF. JAC was indicative of a more atherogenic diet than that of JC. Health-related physical fitness levels were similar between groups. There were no significant differences in PA levels between groups. Based upon the results of this study, JAC displayed higher CVRF than their sex- and age-matched counterparts in Japan. Since there were no differences in PA levels between groups, this may be related to the diet of JAC which included a greater consumption of total and saturated fat, and a lower intake of carbohydrates.