Date Available

10-21-2023

Year of Publication

2023

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nutrition and Food Systems (MSNFS)

Document Type

Master's Thesis

College

Agriculture, Food and Environment

Department/School/Program

Dietetics and Human Nutrition

First Advisor

Dr. Robin Shoemaker

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of hypertension in children and adolescents is rising, with 13% having elevated blood pressure and 5% having hypertension. Sex differences play a role in cardiovascular diseases in adults but are not well defined in youth. The objective of this study is to identify sex differences in obesity-mediated cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents. Methods: This is a pilot study of n=82 youth with obesity recruited from a High BMI Clinic. Clinical data and blood samples were collected at a single time point. Serum sterols were quantified via LC-MS/MS. Number of cardiometabolic risk factors were evaluated. Data are mean +/- standard deviation with analysis via t-tests. Results: Mean BMI was 34.8 in males and 35.8 kg/m2 in females. Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was significantly higher in females compared to males ((69.4 +/- 8.9 versus 65.3 +/- 6.3 mmHG; P < 0.05). It was statistically significant that more females experienced elevated BP compared to males (p < 0.05). There was a significant interaction between sex and cortisol (p=0.023) for DBP. Conclusions: There are sex differences in the relationship between plasma cortisol and
DBP in youth with obesity. Modulation of the cortisol pathway may be part of the mechanism of obesity-associated hypertension in females.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2023.074

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