title: Diet-induced changes in sympathetic nervous system activity: possible implications for obesity and hypertension.
abstract: The sympathetic nervous system responds to changes in caloric intake; caloric restriction decreases and carbohydrate administration increases sympathetic nervous system activity in animals and man. Insulin may be a major link between changes in dietary intake and changes in central sympathetic outflow. Caloric restriction reduces, and carbohydrate administration increases blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats, changes consistent with a primary effect of caloric intake on sympathetic nervous system activity. Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system by overfeeding may contribute to the development and maintenance of hypertension in biologically-predisposed animals and man. The association of obesity and hypertension may reflect chronic overfeeding, although diet-induced changes in sympathetic nervous system activity may affect blood pressure in non-obese individuals as well.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D006051:Aurothioglucose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000187:drug effects; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013395:Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D007328:Insulin; D006051:Aurothioglucose; D013395:Sucrose; D005947:Glucose; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine