Cardiovascular autonomic reflex tests and serum FGF21 levels in overweight and normal-weight men and women

Abstract

Objective

We evaluated cardiovascular autonomic reflexes and serum fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a surrogate marker of mitochondrial function, in a cohort of overweight and normal-weight adults (n = 42).

Methods

Indices of autonomic function were monitored during supine rest, autonomic reflex tests and submaximal clinical exercise test, with heart rate variables and blood pressure measured with an automatic system.

Results

Markers of sympathetic dominance were accentuated in overweight adults, including elevated resting low-frequency to the high-frequency ratio for heart rate variability (203 ± 227 vs. 96 ± 42; p = .01), and handgrip diastolic blood pressure (36 ± 15 mmHg vs. 25 ± 12 mmHg; p = .01). A weak non-significant trend has been found for a negative correlation between blood pressure responses to isometric handgrip test and FGF21 in the overweight group (r = −0.37; p = .09).

Conclusions

Excess body weight appears to trigger sympathetic overactivity in overweight adults, yet autonomic dysregulation might not be associated with notable changes in serum FGF21.

Keywords:

• Body mass index
• cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction
• FGF21
• heart rate variability

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

This study was partly supported by the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development [Grant No. 175037], the Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development [Grant No. 114–451-710], and the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad.