Citation

Mansell K, Blackburn D, Arnold B, Arnason T. Can. J. Diabetes 2011; 35(5): 497-502.

Affiliation

Department of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Canadian Diabetes Association, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S1499-2671(11)80005-5

PMID

24854974

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Canadian amateur football players.

METHODS: University football players from Saskatchewan were invited to participate in this study. Each subject underwent screening for blood pressure using a BpTRU monitor, and serum cholesterol and fasting blood glucose using a Cholestech LDX analyzer. Waist circumference was recorded and body composition was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

RESULTS were compared between linemen and non-linemen using independent sample t-tests for continuous data and chi-square for dichotomous variables.

RESULTS: Out of 39 players who consented to participate, 14% of linemen (3/21) and no non-linemen satisfied metabolic syndrome criteria. Compared to non-linemen, linemen had a higher waist circumference (108.0 vs. 82.9 cm; p<0.001), higher total body fat composition (26.4% vs. 11.2%; p<0.001), lower mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (0.93, vs. 1.12 mmol/L; p=0.021) and higher fasting blood glucose (5.22 vs. 4.77 mmol/L; p<0.001).

CONCLUSION: Despite their young age and participation in an elite-level athletic program, many collegiate-level football linemen had features of metabolic syndrome. Although our study focused on a single team, we suspect these trends may be consistent across the country.

Keywords: Canadian football;

Language: en