Skinfold Thickness is Related to Cardiovascular Autonomic Control as Assessed by Heart Rate Variability and Heart Rate Recovery

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if heart rate recovery (HRR) and heart rate variability (HRV) are related to maximal aerobic fitness and selected body composition measurements. Fifty men (age = 21.9 ± 3.0 years, height = 180.8 ± 7.2 cm, weight = 80.4 ± 9.1 kg, volunteered to participate in this study. For each subject, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and the sum of skinfolds across the chest, abdomen, and thigh regions (SUMSF) were recorded. Heart rate variability (HRV) was assessed during a 5-minute period while the subjects rested in a supine position. The following frequency domain parameters of HRV were recorded: normalized high-frequency power (HFnu), and low-frequency to high-frequency power ratio (LF:HF). To determine maximal aerobic fitness (i.e., VO2max), each subject performed a maximal graded exercise test on a treadmill. Heart rate recovery was recorded 1 (HRR1) and 2 (HRR2) minutes during a cool-down period. Mean VO2max and BMI for all the subjects were 49.5 ± 7.5 ml·kg(-1)·min(-1) and 24.7 ± 2.2 kg·m(-2), respectively. Although VO2max, WC, and SUMSF was each significantly correlated to HRR and HRV, only SUMSF had a significant independent correlation to HRR1, HRR2, HFnu, LF:HF (p < 0.01). The results of the regression procedure showed that SUMSF accounted for the greatest variance in HRR1, HRR2, HFnu, and LF:HF (p < 0.01). The results of this study suggest that cardiovascular autonomic modulation is significantly related to maximal aerobic fitness and body composition. However, SUMSF appears to have the strongest independent relationship with HRR and HRV, compared to other body composition parameters and VO2max.

Dissociation of heart rate variability and heart rate recovery in well-trained athletes

“…Our findings are also consistent with those of Esco et al (2011), who recently reported that VO 2max was significantly correlated with 2-min HRR, but not with any measure of HRV, in a group of apparently healthy young adults. Both of these studies examined participants with a wide range of fitness levels, and thus our findings complement these by demonstrating these relationships within a group of well-trained athletes.…”

“…Previous research has also found significant relationships between measures of body composition and autonomic balance, suggesting autonomic derangements in obese populations (Chen et al 2008;Esco et al 2011;Nagai et al 2003). For example, Esco et al (2011) recently found significant relationships between both HRV and HRR and body composition estimated from the sum of skinfold measures.…”

“…We further sought to determine if HRV and HRR were correlated with other variables in this population that have been shown to influence autonomic regulation (i.e., age, body composition) (Craft and Schwartz 1995;Esco et al 2011). Given previous findings (Buchheit et al 2008;Iellamo et al 2002;Lamberts et al 2009;Manzi et al 2009), it was hypothesized that aerobic fitness and training volume would be more closely related to HRR compared to HRV in this population.…”

Physiological and emotional influence on heart rate recovery after submaximal exercise

“…Again research in this area is unclear, with support for a relationship between body composition and HRr (Esco et al, 2011), and indication that no association exists between BMI and HRr (Carroll et al, 2012). Despite a BMI for males in this study classifying them as overweight, waist circumference and body composition values remained low, suggesting an excess lean mass rather than fat mass.…”

Relationship between Resting Heart Rate Variability and Heart Rate Recovery from Exercise in College-Aged Men

“…Central obesity is linked with increased sympathetic nervous system activity and thus HRV measures Christou, Jones, Pimentel, & Seals, 2004;Esco & Williford, 2013;Esco, Williford, & Olson, 2011;Millis et al, 2010). Therefore, it may be prudent to control for, or at least report on, abdominal obesity when studying the relationship between resting HRV and HRR from exercise in order to attempt to isolate vagal activity.…”