Title: Cardiac Vagal Tone and Anthropometric Parameters in Healthy Young Adults- Can Altered Cardiac Vagal Tone Predict Development of Obesity?

Authors: Neetha Shastry, Ashwini, Namratha Shetty, Amrit M. Mirajkar

 DOI:  https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i7.109

Abstract

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Cardiac vagal tone (CVT) on Body Mass Index (BMI) and Body fat percentage BFP) in healthy young adults.

Methodology: The study was performed on 121(males=59, female=62) healthy volunteers. The weight kg) and heightm) were measured and BMI was calculated. BFP was calculated using Durenberg equation. Cardiac vagal measures deep breathing difference DBD) and Valsalva ratio VR) were evaluated. BMI, BFP, DBD and VR were compared between both genders. The correlation between the anthropometric measures and CVT was determined by Pearson’s/Spearman’s correlation test. The effect of CVT on BMI and BFP was assessed by regression analysis.

Results: BMI was lower in females, whereas BFP was lower in males. No significant difference was found in the measures of cardiac vagal activity between the genders. A significant negative correlation was found between BMI and DBD(r= -0.367); Body fat percentage and DBD(r=-0.330) in males. Also, a significant negative correlation was found between cardiac VR and BMI(r= -0.317); VR and BFP(r=-0.290) in males.No such correlation was found in females. Regression analysis showed CVT predicts BMI and BFP in males.

Conclusion: The present study concluded that BMI and BFP are associated with CVT in healthy young males and CVT predicts the development of obesity in healthy young males.

Keywords-Body Mass Index, Body Fat Percentage, Cardiac Vagal tone.

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Corresponding Author

Dr Ashwini

Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, K S Hegde Medical Academy, Mangalore, Karnataka, India

Phone [or Mobile] No: +91 9740531995, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.