Periprandial changes of the sympathetic–parasympathetic balance related to perceived satiety in humans

Abstract

Food intake regulation involves various central and peripheral mechanisms. In this study the relevance of physiological responses reXecting the autonomic nervous system were evaluated in relation to perceived satiety. Subjects were exposed to a lunch-induced hunger-satiety shift, while proWling diverse sensory, physiological, and biochemical characteristics at 15 min intervals. Sensory ratings comprised questionnaires with visual analogues scales about their feeling of satiety, desire to eat, fullness, and hunger. Physiological characteristics included heart rate, heart rate variability, and blood pressure, while biochemical markers such as cortisol levels and -amylase activity were monitored in saliva. The four sensory ratings correlated with heart rate and salivary -amylase suggesting a higher sympathetic tone during satiety. Furthermore, heart rate variability was associated with age and waist-to-hip ratio and cortisol levels negatively correlated with body mass index. Finally, neither chewing nor swallowing contributed to a heart rate increase at food consumption, but orosensory stimulation, as tested with modiWed sham feeding, caused a partial increase of heart rate. In conclusion, after meal ingestion critical physiological alterations reveal a elevated sympathetic tone, which is a potential measure of satiety.

Cortisol, alpha amylase, blood pressure and heart rate responses to food intake in men aged 50–70 years: importance of adiposity

“…Our results indicate that, with the exception of heart rate, all of the SAM system parameters that were measured in the current experiment (salivary alpha amylase, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure) increased in response to lunch (time effect for all parameters p <0.05). These findings partially concur with the reports of Harthoorn et al who found increases in sympathetic nervous system activity after ingestion of a standardised meal (15-20% protein, 35-40% fat and 40-45% carbohydrate) in a group of healthy men and women [38]. Increases in sympathetic nervous system activity are to be expected as eating places a demand on the cardiovascular system.…”

“…It has previously been reported that sympathetic nervous system response to food intake can be bi-phasic in nature [38]. Harthoorn et al reported a secondary increase in sympathetic nervous system activity about 45-50 minutes post ingestion of a meal.…”

The effects of Ramadan fasting on heart rate variability in healthy individuals: A prospective study

“…An inverse relationship of SNS activity and body fat, which suggests a role of β-adrenergic receptors in peripheral and central control of eating, emphasizes the importance of the SNS in food intake (22). Both short-and long term autonomic alterations occur towards a high sympathetic tone after a meal based on increases of HRV (23). Ramadan is less a formal fast and more a phase shift in food intake with a change in sleep cycles to accommodate the change in the timing of food intake.…”

Effects of Modern Eating Patterns on the Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System in Young Japanese Males

“…As appetite is inversely related to sympathetic nervous system activity (Harthoorn and Dransfield, 2008), it is possible that sympathetic nervous activity at baseline in the moderate-E high-C meal group may be slightly more activated than that in the fasting group. However, there was no significant difference in any of the autonomic nervous system activity parameters at baseline among the three groups.…”

“…Physiological mechanisms underlying a reciprocal association between appetite and sympathetic nervous activity have been suggested (Bray, 2000). Recently, Harthoorn and Dransfield (2008) showed a relationship between increased sympathetic nervous activity and increased postprandial satiety in healthy subjects. Their results are consistent with our results.…”