Exercise and Arterial Modulation in Youth

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The project is designed as a large scale, cross-sectional study. The aim of the study is to investigate the association of micro- and macrovascular function with physical fitness and body composition in primary school children.

Detailed Description
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The investigators will examine whether physical fitness, body composition and blood pressure differently affect large and small arteries in young children. Furthermore, the investigators will examine whether pulmonary dysfunction is associated with vascular disorders and if subcutaneous advanced glycation endproducts (AGE's) mediate some of the vascular alterations observed.

Conditions
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Cardiovascular Disease, Childhood Obesity, Hypertension, Endothelial Dysfunction

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Physical Activity, 20-meter shuttle run


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: primary school children aged 6-8 years who can participate in physical education lessons with written consent from their parents. Exclusion Criteria: children with a medical certificate that prohibits physical exercise with no consent from their parents.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 6 Years
Maximum Age: 8 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Behavioral: Physical Activity, 20-meter shuttle run|cross-sectional physical activity assessment and medical screeening|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Association of arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity) with physical fitness in primary school children | Oscillometric calculation of central pulse wave velocity. | Through study completion, an average of 1 year. | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Association of arteriolar-to-venular diameter ratio (AVR) with physical fitness in primary school children | Retinal vessel diameters by use of Static Retinal Vessel Analyzer (SVA-T). | Through study completion, an average of 1 year. | 
| Association of subcutaneous advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) with body composition, blood pressure and physical fitness | Non-invasive, subcutaneous measurement of AGEs (skin autofluorescence). | Through study completion, an average of one year. | 
| Association of lung function (FEV1/VC) with body composition, blood pressure and physical fitness | Handheld spirometer (EasyOne Diagnostic) to measure vital capacity (VC), peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and the ratio of FEV1/VC. | Through study completion, an average of one year. | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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arterial stiffness, retinal vessels, physical activity, children