Heart Rate Variability

Abstract

Background: Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a parameter used to investigate the autonomous neural system (sympathetic and parasympathetic system). Reduced HRV is a risk factor which correlates with physical and psychological stress, psychoneuroendocrineimmunology dysregulation as well as with aging. HRV is considered a reliable parameter to investigate psycho-physical resilience, the latter being considered a key-factor for human longevity and the final target of hormesis pathways as well. Different chemical, physical, psychological stressors may interfere with HRV. Aims: The aim of our observational study was to assess the possible changes in HRV changes induced by a few targeted stimulations: breathing, maqui nutraceutical intake, physical activity and thermal stress, and maqui nutraceutical intake. Patients and Methods: An observational study was performed on 4 groups of subjects, for a total of 112 individuals, who underwent HRV analysis after administration of different stressors/stimuli, such as breathing, thermal stimulation, Maqui 500 ® nutraceutical intake and physical activity. The investigated parameters were: SDNN, RMSSD, MHRR, mean heart rate (MHR) and the three frequency-domain based bands (VLF, LF, HF). Results: Our outcomes demonstrate that HRV assessment is a useful and reliable investigation to highlight and monitor the effects of these stressors. Breathing was the stimulus which induced the most significant variation in HV parameters. Conclusions: Notwithstanding the short duration of the follow-up, immediate/short-term HRV assessment showed statistically significant variations of the main parameters (e.g. SDNN, RMSSD and frequency bands) in a few cases after stimuli exposure. Studies including larger cohorts and longer follow-up are needed and justified to corroborate our outcomes furthermore.

Efficacy and safety of a Maqui berry-based nutraceutical in venous insufficiency of the lower limbs

“…In a recent publication 31 a direct action of Maqui 500® on parasympathetic and sympathetic systems was proven through HRV assessment 31 . This finding may partially explain the overall improvement of mental state after maqui intake, which is coherent with similar findings of other studies 20 where polyphenol supplementation proved to beneficially interfere with a few psychologic and neural patterns 32 .…”