American Journal of Human Biology最新文献

{"title":"Time Trends in Adult Height Among Russian Males and Females (1966–2000) and Projections to 2050 in the Context of Changing Living Conditions","authors":"Marina A. Negasheva,&nbsp;Ainur A. Khafizova,&nbsp;Alla A. Movsesian","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70145","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.70145","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To model the temporal dynamics of adult height among Russian males and females born between 1966 and 2000, in relation to changes in socio-economic and demographic indicators reflecting population living conditions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study is based on publicly available anthropometric, socio-economic, and demographic data. Time trends in adult height were examined using mean values recorded at age 19 for males and females born between 1966 and 2000. Eleven proxy variables representing environmental conditions (e.g., nutrition, health, and urbanization) were analyzed across the study period. Statistical methods included correlation analysis and multiple linear regression to identify key predictors of cohort-level height variation.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>From 1966 to 2000, adult height increased steadily up to the cohorts born in the late 1980s, declined in the 1990s, and rose again in the early 2000s. Regression models identified five key predictors most strongly associated with height trends: the share of urban population, life expectancy at birth, crude birth and death rates, and per capita meat consumption. A preliminary projection based on these models suggests a continued increase in average adult height for cohorts born through 2050.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study introduces original theoretical models that link time trends in adult height in Russia to long-term changes in environmental conditions shaped by major historical events in the latter half of the 20th century. The findings highlight the substantial impact of urbanization, nutritional status, and population health on physical growth outcomes. For the first time, these regression-based models have been used to generate a projection of adult height trends in the Russian population through 2050. The proposed framework offers valuable insight into the biological consequences of socio-economic transformation and provides a basis for future research and public policy aimed at supporting child development and improving population health.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145111179","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A 2-Year Follow-Up Study of Changes in Handgrip Strength in Young Athletes Playing With and Without Gripping Sports Equipment","authors":"Takashi Abe,&nbsp;Akemi Abe,&nbsp;Jeremy P. Loenneke","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70139","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70139","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study compared changes in handgrip strength (HGS) over 2 years in young athletes participating in two sports: kendo, which involves gripping equipment during play, and soccer, which does not.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>One hundred eleven young athletes (54 kendo boys [mean age at baseline: 10.1 ± 1.7 years] and 57 soccer boys [mean age at baseline: 10.3 ± 1.8 years]) underwent three HGS measurements, spaced 1 year apart (Test 1, Test 2, and Test 3). The Q–Q plot indicated some violations of normality; therefore, we used a robust repeated measures ANOVA function in R.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We found evidence for a localized interaction effect (<i>p</i> = 0.02), with a sport difference in the change from Test 1 (baseline) to Test 3 and Test 2 to Test 3 (kendo &gt; soccer). There was no statistically significant main effect of sport (<i>p</i> = 0.06); however, kendo was on average 2.4 (95% CI: −0.08, 4.9) kg stronger than soccer athletes. When collapsing across groups, HGS increased from Test 1 to Test 2 by 1.9 (1.5, 2.3) kg, and from Test 2 to Test 3 by 2.8 (2.1, 3.6) kg.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Sports that involve gripping tools in conjunction with natural movements may help improve HGS during the developmental period.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145092948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of Low EPHX1 Activity-Associated Genotypes in Himalayan Populations of India","authors":"Divya Rai,&nbsp;Saptaparni De,&nbsp;Debashruti Das,&nbsp;Shishir Tamang,&nbsp;Kumaresh Mandal,&nbsp;Soni Subba,&nbsp;L. Suhasini Sahithi,&nbsp;Alla G. Reddy,&nbsp;Periyasamy Govindaraj,&nbsp;Kumarasamy Thangaraj,&nbsp;Gyaneshwer Chaubey,&nbsp;Rakesh Tamang","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70148","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70148","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The <i>EPHX1</i> gene encodes human microsomal epoxide hydrolase 1, which helps in biotransformation processes. Its activity is influenced by combinations of genotypes at its polymorphic sites. There are no data on the <i>EPHX1</i> gene variants in the Indian Himalayan and adjoining populations (HAAPs). Therefore, this study aims to investigate the activity-associated genotypes of the <i>EPHX1</i> gene variants in the HAAPs.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The EPHX1 activity-associated variants, located in exon 3 (Tyr113His) and exon 4 (His139Arg), were analyzed among 607 samples from 16 different HAAPs. Genotype data from previously published 14 Indian populations were combined and evaluated for pan-India comparison.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We observed the prevalence of low EPHX1 activity-associated genotypes compared to the intermediate and high activity combinations in the HAAPs. There was a significant difference (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) between the HAAPs and the reference Indian population based on variants in the <i>EPHX1</i> gene. Comparison based on linguistic affiliation revealed that low EPHX1 activity-related genotypes were significantly higher in frequency among Tibeto-Burman speaking HAAPs (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), followed by the other three major linguistic groups in India.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our study highlights the variations in both the studied loci among the HAAPs. We observed the widespread presence of low-activity-associated genotypes of the <i>EPHX1</i> gene in the HAAPs. The pan-India comparison revealed the highest prevalence of low-activity-associated genotypes among the Tibeto-Burman speaking HAAPs compared to other linguistic groups. In the future, high-resolution genetic and molecular studies on EPHX1 are necessary to corroborate this finding and better understand human health holistically.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145092970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Minoritized and Poorly Understood: A Scoping Review of Mental and Physical Health Among Arab Adolescents in Canada and the United States","authors":"Delaney J. Glass,&nbsp;Hani Alsamawi,&nbsp;Alexa Fairclough-Dick,&nbsp;Aya Ahmad,&nbsp;Mahdi Taye,&nbsp;Maryam Shaoob","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70144","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70144","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Arab adolescents are both racialized and invisible minorities in Canada and the United States (US), following the war on terror, incomplete ethnic categorization, Islamophobia, and anti-Arab racism. We conducted a scoping review of physical and psychological health in Arab adolescent populations living in the US and Canada. Inclusion criteria encompassed adolescents and emerging adults aged 10–24 who identified as Arab or having Arab identity and Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) origins. Included scholarly literature reported at least one physical or psychological health outcome and was published in English or Arabic up until 2025. We identified over 200 relevant studies using PubMed, Web of Science, ResearchRabbit.ai, Google Scholar, and Undermind AI. We reviewed 50 total studies that met our inclusion criteria, highlighting the paucity of research on health and biopsychosocial variation among Arab adolescents in North America over a 30-year period. Despite heterogeneity in the health outcomes reported across studies, many focused on acculturative stress, ethnic identity formation, mental health, and discrimination. Few studies examined physical health and sexual and reproductive health; none examined pubertal, immunological, or linear growth outcomes. We discuss how biocultural and human biological research approaches can contribute to advancing a needed and more holistic understanding of health variation among Arab adolescent populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajhb.70144","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145092940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparing Physical Activity Levels and Metabolic Quotients to Quantify the Physical Activity Transition in Rwanda","authors":"Alexandra R. Harris,&nbsp;Andrew K. Yegian,&nbsp;Benjamin E. Sibson,&nbsp;Aimable Uwimana,&nbsp;Jean-Baptiste Niyibizi,&nbsp;Denis Regnier,&nbsp;Robert M. Ojiambo,&nbsp;Asuman Nuhu,&nbsp;Alec Thomas,&nbsp;Laszlo Kocsis,&nbsp;Torsten Vennemann,&nbsp;Aaron L. Baggish,&nbsp;Daniel E. Lieberman","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70142","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70142","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Although humans used to be physically active hunter-gatherers and subsistence farmers, there has been a recent and ongoing global physical activity transition as billions of people adopt industrial lifestyles primarily in urban areas. In order to analyze how to quantify the magnitude of this physical activity transition in a natural experiment, we compared two different metrics of physical activity metabolism among intensive subsistence farmers in northern Rwanda (Burera District, Northern Province) and urban professionals in the country's main city, Kigali.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We used the doubly labeled water (DLW) method to measure body composition, daily energy expenditure, and estimate activity energy expenditure in 36 individuals (<i>n</i> = 19 rural, <i>n</i> = 17 urban). We then used two metrics to compare activity energetics between the groups: Physical Activity Level (PAL), the ratio of total to resting energy expenditure, and Activity Metabolic Quotients (AMQ), a size-normalized measure of the daily metabolic demand from physical activity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>While PALs suggest that Rwandan farmers are 1.5 times more active than urban office workers on average (PAL: 2.41 vs. 1.56), AMQs indicate that the rural farmers actually spend 2.6 times more energy on physical activity than urban office workers (AMQ: 1.85 ± 0.09 vs. 0.72 ± 0.05, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Metrics based on total daily metabolism such as PAL and TMQ captured some of the differences in physical activity metabolism between the farmers and office workers but severely underestimated the magnitude of the difference as illustrated by AMQ. We find that rural Rwandan farmers have some of the highest physical activity metabolic rates ever measured in humans, emphasizing the magnitude of the physical activity transition and suggesting that subsistence farming can demand much higher energy expenditures compared not just to industrial lifestyles but also to hunting and gathering.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145087955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Micronutrient Deficiencies and Association With Hypertension: The Role of Folate, Vitamin B12, and Homocysteine","authors":"Suresh Dahal,&nbsp;Debashis Bhattacharjee,&nbsp;Anshika Kaushik,&nbsp;Sapana Kasaudhan,&nbsp;Kallur Nava Saraswathy,&nbsp;Naorem Kiranmala Devi,&nbsp;Ram Prasad Mitra,&nbsp;Ranjita Pandey,&nbsp;Rajinder Kumar Dhamija,&nbsp;Kewal Krishan,&nbsp;Vineet Chaudhary","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70143","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70143","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Folate and vitamin B12 are essential micronutrients involved in one-carbon metabolism. Deficiencies in these nutrients can elevate homocysteine levels, a recognized risk factor for hypertension. This study investigates the prevalence of folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and their association with hypertension in a North Indian population.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 1398 adult participants aged 30–75 years from rural Punjab, India. Biochemical parameters, including folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine levels, were assessed using the Chemiluminescence Immunoassay technique. Hypertension was defined as SBP ≥ 140 mmHg and DBP ≥ 90 mmHg or the use of antihypertensive medication.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The findings revealed a sizable prevalence of folate (26.4%) and vitamin B12 (30.7%) deficiencies, along with a high prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia (64.8%). Homocysteine levels showed an inverse relationship with folate and vitamin B12 levels, though this association was evident only up to a specific threshold. Further, hyperhomocysteinemia was associated with prehypertension and hypertension, and low folate with prehypertension. Paradoxically, a positive correlation was observed between folate levels and blood pressure.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These findings underscore the widespread prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies and hyperhomocysteinemia and their potential association with hypertension. The study also highlights the importance of establishing upper cutoff levels for folate and vitamin B12 to refine dietary and supplementation guidelines. The positive correlation between folate levels and blood pressure suggests potential interference with cellular nutrient uptake in hypertensive individuals, warranting further investigation.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145076656","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biosocial Factors Shaping Perceptions of Disease Risk Among a Community-Based Sample of Sexual and Gender Minority People Living in Toronto During the COVID-19 Pandemic","authors":"James K. Gibb,&nbsp;Sarah Williams,&nbsp;Kaspars Mikelstiens,&nbsp;Jada Charles,&nbsp;Leela McKinnon,&nbsp;Laura Beach,&nbsp;Luseadra McKerracher,&nbsp;Jessica Fields","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70131","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70131","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected vulnerable populations, including sexual and gender minority (SGM) people. Food insecurity, prevalent among this population, may influence perceived vulnerability to infection and related psychological outcomes. This study investigated the association between food insecurity and perceived vulnerability to infection among SGM adults in Toronto, Canada, during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A mixed-methods study was conducted with 338 self-identified SGM adults recruited via respondent-driven sampling to complete an internet-based survey between March and July 2021. Measures included food security status, germ aversion, perceived infectability, and COVID-19 worry. Structural equation modeling (SEM) examined pathways linking food insecurity, discrimination, sleep quality, and perceived vulnerability to disease, adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic covariates.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The SEM showed that discrimination predicted increased food insecurity (<i>β</i> = 0.30, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and poorer sleep quality (<i>β</i> = 0.26, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Sleep quality mediated the relationship between food insecurity and perceived vulnerability to disease (indirect effect = 0.16, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Discrimination had a significant total effect on perceived vulnerability to disease (<i>β</i> = 0.22, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Discussion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These findings highlight the roles of food insecurity, discrimination, and sleep quality in shaping perceptions of disease vulnerability and risk among SGM people. Interventions addressing food security, mental health, and structural inequities are crucial for mitigating health disparities both during public health crises and in everyday life.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12441999/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145076630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Immunity Switches and Macrophage Manipulations: Trauma, Ovulation, and Depression as Latent Tuberculosis Reactivation Risks","authors":"Stacie Burke","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70146","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70146","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Inflammation is the immune system's natural response to initial tuberculosis infection. Tuberculosis bacteria have gained adaptations to manipulate the inflammatory process, sometimes settling into latency and containment in granulomas, ensuring their survival. Grounded in an evolutionary framework, this hypothesis-driven narrative synthesis centers upon immune-related switches, macrophage manipulations, and the critical roles of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) in the body, exploring how this pro-inflammatory mitogen expressed by M1 macrophages frames risks for latent tuberculosis reactivation. The review focuses on trauma, ovulation, and depression, three case studies of pro-inflammatory switches creating risks for reactivation because of M1 macrophage polarization, the up-regulation of VEGFA expression, and angiogenesis (the sprouting of new blood vessels). A biological rationale is extended for why skeletal tuberculosis is so often connected with onsets in childhood, why adolescent and reproductive age females may experience heightened risks for latent tuberculosis reactivation relative to males, and why there is a potential for latent tuberculosis reactivation following onsets of depression. The immunity switches and reactivation risks of trauma, ovulation, and depression are problematic, particularly in contexts of endemic tuberculosis if large numbers of people are routinely latently infected, and among individuals with natural “high producer” VEGFA phenotypes, or those with strong type 1/M1/T_H1 or type 3/M1/T_H17 pro-inflammatory switch tendencies, and in infections with tuberculosis bacteria possessing macrophage- and granuloma-manipulating adaptations (virulence factors). Arguably, any disease or physiological state engaging pro-inflammatory switches (common and sometimes chronic in the modern population) and M1 macrophage polarizations, and any drug treatments or therapeutics intending to alter VEGFA expression should be considered for latent tuberculosis reactivation risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajhb.70146","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145076593","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Is the Association Between Sports Participation in Childhood and Adolescence and Cardiometabolic Risk Mediated by Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Adulthood?","authors":"Mariana Biagi Batista,&nbsp;Mileny Caroline Menezes de Freitas,&nbsp;Cynthia Correa Lopes Barbosa,&nbsp;Gabriela Blasquez Shigaki,&nbsp;Catiana Leila Possamai Romanzini,&nbsp;Danielle Venturini,&nbsp;Alessandra Miyuki Okino,&nbsp;Décio Sabbatini Barbosa,&nbsp;Enio Ricardo Vaz Ronque","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70147","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70147","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Analyze the direct and indirect associations between sports participation (SP) during childhood and adolescence and the metabolic risk profile in adulthood. Additionally, investigate whether the relationship is mediated by current levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A retrospective observational study was conducted with 123 young adults (61 males), aged 18–25 years. Metabolic variables included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), relative body fat percentage (%BF), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and blood markers such as glucose levels, lipid profile, C-reactive protein, insulin, and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). A composite metabolic risk score was created by summing the <i>z</i>-scores. CRF was estimated using the 20-m shuttle run test. SP was assessed using a retrospective questionnaire, while moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in adulthood was measured using accelerometry. Structural equation modeling was applied to examine both direct and indirect associations.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>SP during childhood, adolescence, and both periods was indirectly and inversely associated with the metabolic risk score and HOMA-IR in adulthood. The effect of youth SP on metabolic risk was mediated by adult VO₂ max related to metabolic score (<i>β</i> = −0.127; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and also to HOMA-IR (<i>β</i> = −0.067; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Moreover, MVPA positively interacted with VO₂ max across all analytical models (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Youth SP during childhood and adolescence was indirectly associated with reduced metabolic risk in adulthood, with this relationship being mediated by current CRF. Additionally, the current practice of MVPA contributes positively to CRF in adulthood.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12439871/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145070993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the Predictive Value of 2D:4D Ratio in Cardiovascular Diseases and Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review","authors":"Özlem Elvan,&nbsp;Emine Kaplan Serin,&nbsp;Tuba Güner Emül","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.70140","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The second-to-fourth digit (2D:4D) ratio, considered a proxy for prenatal androgen exposure, has been proposed as a potential biomarker for various adult health conditions, including metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, evidence supporting this association remains inconsistent. This systematic review aimed to synthesize current findings on the association between 2D:4D ratios and risk factors for MetS and CVD.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Nine peer-reviewed studies published between 2006 and 2025 were included, selected based on predefined PICOS criteria. Study populations consisted of adult males and females from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Evaluated risk factors included anthropometric measures (body mass index, waist circumference, neck circumference, waist-to-height ratio), metabolic indicators (blood pressure, glucose levels, lipid profiles), and established diagnostic criteria for MetS and CVD. Study designs and methodological quality were assessed to ensure comparability and rigor.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Of the nine studies, three focused exclusively on females, five included both sexes, and one involved only males. Five studies addressed CVD risk, two investigated MetS, and two evaluated both. Seven studies reported statistically significant associations between lower 2D:4D ratios and increased cardiometabolic risk, particularly in males. Right-hand 2D:4D ratio measurements showed stronger predictive value. In contrast, two studies found no significant associations.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>While current evidence suggests a potential link between 2D:4D ratios, especially on the right hand, and cardiometabolic risk, inconsistencies remain. These findings highlight the need for further longitudinal and large-scale studies to determine the utility of the 2D:4D ratio as a noninvasive biomarker for MetS and CVD risk prediction.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145038268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}