Key result
Eight weeks of once-weekly transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation significantly improved sympathovagal balance and reduced systolic blood pressure in patients with metabolic syndrome.
Why the study?
Emerging evidence suggests the nervous system regulates immune and metabolic alterations in metabolic syndrome via the vagus nerve, prompting evaluation of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on cardiovascular and inflammatory components.
Does transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation improve autonomic balance and cardiovascular parameters in patients with metabolic syndrome?
RCT (n=30)
Open-label
2:1
No
Does transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation improve autonomic balance and cardiovascular parameters in patients with metabolic syndrome?
Absolute Event Rate: 0.8% vs 1.6%
p-value: p=0.026
Brief, once-weekly transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation over 8 weeks improved autonomic balance, reduced blood pressure, and shifted monocytes toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype in patients with metabolic syndrome.
BACKGROUND: There is emerging evidence that the nervous system regulates immune and metabolic alterations mediating Metabolic syndrome (MetS) pathogenesis via the vagus nerve. This study evaluated the effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (TAVNS) on key cardiovascular and inflammatory components of MetS. METHODS: We conducted an open label, randomized (2:1), two-arm, parallel-group controlled trial in MetS patients. Subjects in the treatment group (n = 20) received 30 min of TAVNS with a NEMOS® device placed on the cymba conchae of the left ear, once weekly. Patients in the control group (n = 10) received no stimulation. Hemodynamic, heart rate variability (HRV), biochemical parameters, and monocytes, progenitor endothelial cells, circulating endothelial cells, and endothelial micro particles were evaluated at randomization, after the first TAVNS treatment, and again after 8 weeks of follow-up. RESULTS: An improvement in sympathovagal balance (HRV analysis) was observed after the first TAVNS session. Only patients treated with TAVNS for 8 weeks had a significant decrease in office BP and HR, a further improvement in sympathovagal balance, with a shift of circulating monocytes towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype and endothelial cells to a reparative vascular profile. CONCLUSION: These results are of interest for further study of TAVNS as treatment of MetS.
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Moraes et al. (2023) conducted an RCT in Metabolic syndrome (n=30). Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (TAVNS) vs. No stimulation was evaluated on LF/HF ratio of heart rate variability at 8 weeks (p=0.026). Eight weeks of once-weekly transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation significantly improved sympathovagal balance and reduced systolic blood pressure in patients with metabolic syndrome.
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