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. 2010;65(1):45-51.
doi: 10.1590/S1807-59322010000100008.

Lower cardiac vagal tone in non-obese healthy men with unfavorable anthropometric characteristics

Plínio S Ramos  1 , Claudio Gil S Araújo
Affiliations
Free PMC article

Lower cardiac vagal tone in non-obese healthy men with unfavorable anthropometric characteristics

Plínio S Ramos et al. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2010.
Free PMC article

Abstract

Objectives: to determine if there are differences in cardiac vagal tone values in non-obese healthy, adult men with and without unfavorable anthropometric characteristics.

Introduction: It is well established that obesity reduces cardiac vagal tone. However, it remains unknown if decreases in cardiac vagal tone can be observed early in non-obese healthy, adult men presenting unfavorable anthropometric characteristics.

Methods: Among 1688 individuals assessed between 2004 and 2008, we selected 118 non-obese (BMI <30 kg/m(2)), healthy men (no known disease conditions or regular use of relevant medications), aged between 20 and 77 years old (42 +/- 12-years-old). Their evaluation included clinical examination, anthropometric assessment (body height and weight, sum of six skinfolds, waist circumference and somatotype), a 4-second exercise test to estimate cardiac vagal tone and a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test to exclude individuals with myocardial ischemia. The same physician performed all procedures.

Results: A lower cardiac vagal tone was found for the individuals in the higher quintiles - unfavorable anthropometric characteristics - of BMI (p=0.005), sum of six skinfolds (p=0.037) and waist circumference (p<0.001). In addition, the more endomorphic individuals also presented a lower cardiac vagal tone (p=0.023), while an ectomorphic build was related to higher cardiac vagal tone values as estimated by the 4-second exercise test (r=0.23; p=0.017).

Conclusions: Non-obese and healthy adult men with unfavorable anthropometric characteristics tend to present lower cardiac vagal tone levels. Early identification of this trend by simple protocols that are non-invasive and risk-free, using select anthropometric characteristics, may be clinically useful in a global strategy to prevent cardiovascular disease.

Keywords: Anthropometric; Autonomic nervous system; Body mass index; Somatotype; Waist circumference.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Total body fat unfavorable anthropometric characteristics, * p<0.05
Figure 2
Figure 2
Regional unfavorable anthropometric characteristics, * p<0.05
Figure 3
Figure 3
Somatotype *p<0.05
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