title: Postprandial cardiac autonomic function in Prader-Willi syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) have a high cardiovascular risk, the mechanism of which is unclear. There may be dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in PWS.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To measure, as indicators of cardiac autonomic function, postprandial heart rate variability (HRV) and arterial stiffness in adults with PWS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten adults with PWS were compared with 11 matched healthy obese subjects and 9 healthy lean subjects. Electrocardiographic traces and arterial stiffness were recorded over a period of 10 minutes at -60, 0, 30, 60, 120 and 240 minutes after consumption of a standardized 600-kCal breakfast. Frequency domain analysis was performed using fast Fourier transform to estimate power spectral density in the full spectrum and in low-frequency (LF 0·04-0·15 Hz) and high-frequency (HF 0·15-0·40 Hz) bands.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ANCOVA revealed a reduced LF HRV meal response in adults with PWS compared with obese controls, with no differences in HF HRV, LF/HF ratio, heart rate, total power or arterial stiffness meal responses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study assessed cardiac autonomic function in adults with PWS compared with matched obese and lean subjects in response to a meal. Results suggest impaired postprandial ANS responsiveness in PWS, which could contribute to both the known increased cardiovascular risk and obesity.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes & Obesity Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney-Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia. l.purtell@garvan.org.au
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Purtell
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viardot
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sainsbury
authors.forename: Arabella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Loughnan
authors.forename: Katharine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Steinbeck
authors.forename: Lesley V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sze
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001823:Body Composition; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000502:physiology*; D011218:Prader-Willi Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin