Introduction:

Any type of nutritional imbalance experienced during childhood will affect the health of an individual, both in their childhood and their adulthood. Several studies have proved that there is an association between cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and endocrine and lipid markers at early stages of life.

Objective:

To establish the relationship between nutritional status (IGF-1 and serum levels of its binding proteins IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3), and CVD risk markers in students aged 7 to 9 years.

Materials and methods:

Cross-sectional observational study conducted in 84 children attending two schools from Bogotá D.C. and Soacha, Colombia, to identify the relationship between possible variations in CVD risk markers and nutritional status. Sexual development stage, lipid profile, anthropometric data, blood sugar levels and IGF-1 and IGFBP serum levels of all participants were measured. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Pearson's correlation coefficient, the analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the Kruskall-Wallis, Games-Howell and Dunnett's tests. The confidence interval and statistical significance were 95% and p<0.05, respectively.

Results:

IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2 levels proportionally decreased as weight increased. An inverse correlation between both proteins and triglyceride levels was found, as well as a direct correlation with HDL cholesterol levels.

Conclusions:

Alterations in CVD risk markers can be identified during childhood. If said alterations are timely detected, it is possible to adopt preventive and therapeutic actions such as the promotion of public policies aimed at preventing childhood overweight and obesity, which in turn will reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in adulthood.

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