Slow deep breathing significantly increased cardiac vagal activity but did not affect peripheral glucose metabolism or energy expenditure during an oral glucose tolerance test in healthy men.
RCT (n=15)
Randomized cross-over
No
Does slow deep breathing improve peripheral glucose metabolism and modulate parasympathetic activity in healthy men?
While slow deep breathing effectively increases cardiac vagal activity, it does not acutely alter peripheral glucose metabolism or energy expenditure in healthy men.
p-value: p=0.26
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.
Vosseler et al. (Wed,) conducted a rct in Healthy (n=15). Slow deep breathing vs. Normal breathing (14 breaths per minute) was evaluated on Post-load glucose (p=0.26). Slow deep breathing significantly increased cardiac vagal activity but did not affect peripheral glucose metabolism or energy expenditure during an oral glucose tolerance test in healthy men.