Breathing exercises with vagal biofeedback may benefit patients with functional dyspepsia.
OBJECTIVE
Many patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) have postprandial symptoms, impaired gastric accommodation and low vagal tone. The aim of this study was to improve vagal tone, and thereby also drinking capacity, intragastric volume and quality of life, using breathing exercises with vagal biofeedback.


METHODS
Forty FD patients were randomized to either a biofeedback group or a control group. The patients received similar information and care. Patients in the biofeedback group were trained in breathing exercises, 6 breaths/min, 5 min each day for 4 weeks, using specially designed software for vagal biofeedback. Effect variables included maximal drinking capacity using a drink test (Toro clear meat soup 100 ml/min), intragastric volume at maximal drinking capacity, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), skin conductance (SC) and dyspepsia-related quality of life scores.


RESULTS
Drinking capacity and quality of life improved significantly more in the biofeedback group than in the control group (p=0.02 and p=0.01) without any significant change in baseline autonomic activity (RSA and SC) or intragastric volume. After the treatment period, RSA during breathing exercises was significantly correlated to drinking capacity (r=0.6, p=0.008).


CONCLUSIONS
Breathing exercises with vagal biofeedback increased drinking capacity and improved quality of life in FD patients, but did not improve baseline vagal tone.
Hjelland
Ina E
IE
Institute of Medicine, University of Bergen, Division of Gastroenterology, Medical Department, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. ina.hjelland@med.uib.no
Svebak
Sven
S
Berstad
Arnold
A
Flatabø
Geir
G
Hausken
Trygve
T
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001146:Arrhythmia, Sinus; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D004326:Drinking; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000502:physiology; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*