Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet Modulates the Autonomic Nervous System Activity through Salivary Amylase in Obese Population Subjects

Rita Polito, Anna Valenzano, Alessia Scarinci, Ines Villano, Marcellino Monda, Antonietta Messina, Giuseppe Cibelli, Chiara Porro, Ester La Torre, Daniela Pisanelli, Fiorenzo Moscatelli, Giovanni Messina and Vincenzo Monda
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Rita Polito: Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Anna Valenzano: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Viale Pinto, 71100 Foggia, Italy
Alessia Scarinci: Department of Education, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
Ines Villano: Section of Human Physiology and Unit of Dietetics and Sports Medicine, Department of Experimental Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Marcellino Monda: Section of Human Physiology and Unit of Dietetics and Sports Medicine, Department of Experimental Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Antonietta Messina: Section of Human Physiology and Unit of Dietetics and Sports Medicine, Department of Experimental Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Giuseppe Cibelli: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Viale Pinto, 71100 Foggia, Italy
Chiara Porro: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Viale Pinto, 71100 Foggia, Italy
Ester La Torre: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Viale Pinto, 71100 Foggia, Italy
Daniela Pisanelli: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Viale Pinto, 71100 Foggia, Italy
Fiorenzo Moscatelli: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Viale Pinto, 71100 Foggia, Italy
Giovanni Messina: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Viale Pinto, 71100 Foggia, Italy
Vincenzo Monda: Section of Human Physiology and Unit of Dietetics and Sports Medicine, Department of Experimental Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-10

Abstract: In obesity, to reduce visceral adipose tissue (VAT), caloric restriction is a valid strategy. Salivary amylase is an enzyme that cleaves large starch carbohydrates molecules and its production is modulated by the central nervous system. In addition, heart rate variability (HRV) is simply a measure of the variation in time between each heartbeat. This variation is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. In the light of this evidence, the aim of this study is to characterize the effect of a very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) on the autonomic nervous system in obese patients. Twenty subjects affected by obesity were recruited before and after 8 weeks of VLCKD intervention to evaluate salivary amylase by the ELISA test and HRV analysis. These parameters significantly increased after dietary treatment, and positively correlate to each other. VLCKD exerts a positive effect on salivary amylase and HRV, ameliorating body composition and biochemical features. In brief, this dietary intervention improves the autonomic nervous system activity. This is the first study about the effects of VLCKD upon the autonomic nervous system, but further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism undergone VLCKD effects.

Keywords: salivary amylase; heart rate variability (HRV); autonomic nervous system; obesity; very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD); visceral adipose tissue (VAT) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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