Fitness And Cardiovascular Risk Factors In Males Of Contrasting Maturity Status.

Abstract

During adolescence, the associations between biological maturation, fitness, and cardiovascular risk factors have been studied to some extent. Little is known, however, about the later outcomes of the maturation process. PURPOSE: To document the differences in fitness and risk factors between adult males of contrasting maturity status during adolescence. METHODS: In the Leuven Longitudinal Study on Lifestyle, Fitness and Health, 133 males were followed from 1969, when they were 12 to 13 years, until 2002-2004 when they were 47 years. Anthropometric variables, (height, weight, waist circumference, skinfolds, bioelectrical impedance, Dual X-ray absorptiometry) were measured, the adult Eurofit tests and Biodex strength measurements were administered, and risk factors ( blood pressure, glucose level, and blood lipids) were examined. Age at peak height velocity (APHV), derived from individual curve fitting using non-smoothed polynomials, was used to classify the adolescent boys into three maturity groups: (1) early maturing males: APHV -1 SD before mean APHV of the total sample, late maturing males: APHV +1 SD after mean APHV of the total sample, and average: APHV between 0.5 SD before and 0.5 SD after the mean APHV of the total sample. After normalization of the phenotypes, ANOVA's and post-hoc tests were used to verify the mean differences between the contrasting maturity groups. RESULTS: At 47 years, early maturing males had higher systolic blood pressure and biceps and subscapular skinfolds, whereas late maturing males had better strength (handgrip & isokinetic knee-extension torque at 60°/sec (borderline significant)), and power (standing long jump and counter movement jump). CONCLUSION: For some fitness components the adolescent advantage of early maturation reverses in adulthood whereas for some risk factors early maturing males are more at risk.