Metabolic flexibility and resting autonomic function in active menopausal women

• Published in: European journal of applied physiology 2024-12, Vol.124 (12), p.3649-3659
• Main Authors: Monferrer-Marín, Jordi, Roldán, Ainoa, Helge, Jørn Wulff, Blasco-Lafarga, Cristina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aging; Assessment of cardiovascular function during human activities; Autonomic nervous system; Autonomic Nervous System - physiology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Blood levels; Carbohydrate Metabolism - physiology; Female; Flexibility; Heart rate; Heart Rate - physiology; Human Physiology; Humans; Menopause - physiology; Metabolism; Middle Aged; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Original; Original Article; Oxidation; Oxidation-Reduction; Post-menopause; Rest - physiology; Sports Medicine
• ISSN: 1439-6319; 1439-6327; 1439-6327
• DOI: 10.1007/s00421-024-05568-2

Purpose The present study aims to analyze the relationship between cardiac autonomic control at rest—i.e., baseline Heart Rate Variability (HRV)—and metabolic flexibility assessed by means of the FATox and CHOox oxidation rates at the intensities of maximum fat and carbohydrate oxidation (MFO and MCO, respectively). Methods Twenty-four active over-60 women (66.8 ± 4.4 years) had their HRV assessed with 10 min recordings under resting conditions, and this was analyzed with Kubios Scientific software. After this, an incremental submaximal cycling test, starting at 30 watts, with increments of 10 watts every 3 min 15 s was performed. FATox and CHOox were calculated in the last 60 s at each step, using Frayn’s equation. MFO and MCO were further obtained. Results Nonlinear SampEn and 1-DFAα1 (Detrending Fluctuation Analysis score) at rest were both moderate and significantly ( p