Correlation of epicardial adipose tissue and skinfold thickness in professional male soccer players
Alper Kartal1
, Esin Ergin1, Sercan Çayırlı2, Hasan Güngör2, Abraham Samuel Babu3
1Faculty of Sport Sciences, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey
2Cardiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey
3Department of Physiotherapy, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal College of Health Professions, Karnataka, India
Keywords: Epicardial adipose tissue, skinfold thickness, male soccer players
Abstract
Objective: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) represents a proportion of visceral fat distributed around the heart. Measurement of EAT thickness is important for the diagnosis of visceral obesity. Skinfold thickness has been used in both clinical and research settings for visceral obesity diagnosis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation between skinfold and EAT thickness in healthy professional male soccer players.
Material and Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted with twenty professional male soccer players (mean age, 22.50+2.80 years). Anthropometric data was collected for all patients and skinfold measurements were obtained with a caliper. EAT thickness was assessed in parasternal long axis view by transthoracic echocardiography.
Results: Mean body mass index and waist circumference were 22.81±2.1 kg/m2 and 78.80±6.59 cm, mean EAT thickness and body fat ratio were 3.45±0.94 mm and 10.89±4.04%, respectively. EAT thickness was significantly correlated with body fat percentage (r=0.518, p=0.019). EAT thickness was also significantly correlated with age, body mass index, body surface area and waist circumference. EAT thickness did not showed any correlation with systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Conclusion: This study has shown that there was a relationship between body fat ratio and EAT thickness in male soccer players who are considered to be healthy and physically fit.
Cite this article as: Kartal A, Ergin E, Çayırlı S, Güngör H, Babu AS. Correlation of epicardial adipose tissue and skinfold thickness in professional male soccer players. Turk J Sports Med. 2021;56(1).44-7.; http://dx.doi.org/10.47447/tjsm.0473
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to authorship and/or publication of the article.
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or publication of this article.
