Influence of Short-Term Fasting on the Changes in Women’s Cardiovascular Functional Parameters

Sandra Bardauskienė,Inga Muntianaitė Dulkinienė,Algė Daunoravičienė,Alfonsas Vainoras,Aurelija Venskaitytė

doi:10.33607/bjshs.v2i81.325

Sandra Bardauskienė, Inga Muntianaitė Dulkinienė + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.33607/bjshs.v2i81.325

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Abstract

Research background and hypothesis. Recently, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have been the major cause of mortality as a result of poor diet, emotional stress and insufﬁ cient physical activity. Improvement of dietary habits based on reduction of body weight by short-term or long-term fasting has been observed. While analyzing the effect of fasting, its psychological rather than physiological features are usually emphasized.Research aim was to assess the impact of daily fasting on the changes in women’s cardiovascular functional parameters during physical load. Research methods. Thirty six women performed exercise test on bicycle ergometer (the load increased each minute by 25 W) before and after 24 hours of fasting. After the 1 st exercise test the subjects used only non-energetic liquid. Evaluation of electrocardiogram (ECG) data was performed applying computerized ECG analysis system “Kaunas–Load“(Institute of Cardiology, LUHS). We analyzed systolic blood pressure (S), heart rate (HR) and JT interval at rest and throughout the load.Research results. After 24 hours of fasting, HR of women at rest and during the ﬁ rst 3 minutes of the load signiﬁ cantly decreased (p < 0.05). Duration of the JT interval decreased during both exercise tests. Longer JT interval was obtained at rest and during the ﬁ rst 2 minutes of the load after 24 hours of fasting (p < 0.05). S at rest and throughout the load was signiﬁ cantly lower after fasting (p < 0.05). Discusion and conclusions. Functional state evaluation of untrained women after 24 hours of fasting during bicycle ergometery test demonstrated dynamical changes of many cardiovascular function variables: lower HR, increased the JT interval, and decreased S.Keywords: cardiovascular system, short-term fasting, bicycle ergometer test.

Highlights

Emotional stress, fatigue, sleep disorders and improper diet are basic factors resulting in ischemic heart disease, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction or stroke (Singh et al, 2001)
Improvement of dietary habits based on reduction of body weight by short-term or long-term fasting has been observed
First of all, the changes related to the cardiovascular system (CVS), frequently defined as pathological, occur (Singh et al, 2001; Zhang et al, 2010)

Summary

Introduction

Fatigue, sleep disorders and improper diet are basic factors resulting in ischemic heart disease, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction or stroke (Singh et al, 2001). Fasting is defined as a period of having low intake or abstinence from all vital nutrients. During this period, first of all, the changes related to the cardiovascular system (CVS), frequently defined as pathological, occur (Singh et al, 2001; Zhang et al, 2010). Following the meal, during the period of 3–12 hours the body undergoes an „early“ fasting phase, which is called post-absorbtive. After this phase, a „real“ fasting phase marked by hypoglycemia and increased glucogenic activity occurs (Varady, Hellerstein, 2007)

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