Slow deep breathing modulates cardiac vagal activity but does not affect peripheral glucose metabolism in healthy men

Author: Andreas Vosseler1,2,3, Dongxing Zhao2, Julia Hummel1,2,3, Ali Gholamrezaei4, Sarah Hudak1,2,3, Konstantinos Kantartzis1,2,3, Andreas Peter2,3,5, Andreas L Birkenfeld1,2,3, Hans-Ulrich Häring1,2,3, Robert Wagner1,2,3, Hubert Preißl2,3, Stephanie Kullmann2,3, Martin Heni6,7,8,9
Affiliation:
1 Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine IV, University Hospital Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
2 Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Centre Munich at the University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
3 German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany.
4 Pain Management Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
5 Department for Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
6 Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine IV, University Hospital Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076, Tübingen, Germany. martin.heni@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
7 Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Centre Munich at the University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. martin.heni@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
8 German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany. martin.heni@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
9 Department for Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. martin.heni@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
Conference/Journal: Sci Rep
Date published: 2021 Oct 13
Other: Volume ID: 11 , Issue ID: 1 , Pages: 20306 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-99183-2. , Word Count: 233

Parasympathetic nervous system innervates peripheral organs including pancreas, hepatic portal system, and gastrointestinal tract. It thereby contributes to the regulation of whole-body glucose metabolism especially in the postprandial state when it promotes secretion of insulin and enhances its action in major target organs. We now aimed to evaluate the effect of parasympathetic modulation on human glucose metabolism. We used slow deep breathing maneuvers to activate the parasympathetic nervous system and tested for effects on metabolism during an oral glucose tolerance test in a randomized, controlled, cross-over trial in 15 healthy young men. We used projections towards the heart as a readout for parasympathetic activity. When analyzing heart rate variability, there was a significant increase of RMSSD (root mean square of successive differences) when participants performed slow deep breathing compared to the control condition, indicating a modulation of parasympathetic activity. However, no statistically significant effects on peripheral glucose metabolism or energy expenditure after the glucose tolerance test were detected. Of note, we detected a significant association between mean heart rate and serum insulin and C-peptide concentrations. While we did not find major effects of slow deep breathing on glucose metabolism, our correlational results suggest a link between the autonomic nervous system and insulin secretion after oral glucose intake. Future studies need to unravel involved mechanisms and develop potential novel treatment approaches for impaired insulin secretion in diabetes.


PMID: 34645853 PMCID: PMC8514507 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99183-2

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