Associations of lifestyle factors with serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and insulin-like growth factor-1 concentration in prepubertal children.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the relationships of dietary factors, physical activity and sedentary behaviour to dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations among prepubertal children. Therefore, we studied the associations of these lifestyle factors with serum DHEAS and IGF-1 in children. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Cross-sectional analysis of a population sample of 431 prepubertal children aged 6-9 years. MEASUREMENTS: Assessment of dietary factors by food records and physical activity and sedentary behaviour by a combined heart rate and movement monitor and a questionnaire. Measurement of serum DHEAS and IGF-1. RESULTS: Consumption of low-fibre grain products (standardized regression coefficient β = .118, P = .017) and intake of vegetable protein (β = .100, P = .045) was positively and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (β = -.117, P = .018) was inversely associated with DHEAS after adjustment for sex, age and body fat percentage. Energy intake (β = .160, P = .001) was positively associated with IGF-1 adjusting for sex, age and body fat percentage. Vigorous physical activity was inversely associated with DHEAS after adjustment for sex and age (β = -.120, P = .027), and total (β = -.137, P = .007), moderate (β = -.130, P = .012), vigorous (β = -.136, P = .011) and moderate to vigorous physical activity (β = -.160, P = .003) were inversely and total sedentary behaviour (β = .151, P = .003) was positively associated with IGF-1 adjusting for sex and age. None of physical activity measures was associated with DHEAS or IGF-1 after additional adjustment for body fat percentage. CONCLUSIONS: Lifestyle factors have weak and moderate associations with biochemical markers of adrenarche in prepubertal children. These associations indicate body fat independent and dependent influences of diet and physical activity, respectively.