title: Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System Activation and Metabolic Profile in Young Children: The ABCD Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In adults, increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic nervous system activity are associated with a less favorable metabolic profile. Whether this is already determined at early age is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to assess the association between autonomic nervous system activation and metabolic profile and its components in children at age of 5-6 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional data from an apparently healthy population (within the ABCD study) were collected at age 5-6 years in 1540 children. Heart rate (HR), respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA; parasympathetic activity) and pre-ejection period (PEP; sympathetic activity) were assessed during rest. Metabolic components were waist-height ratio (WHtR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), fasting triglycerides, glucose and HDL-cholesterol. Individual components, as well as a cumulative metabolic score, were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In analysis adjusted for child's physical activity, sleep, anxiety score and other potential confounders, increased HR and decreased RSA were associated with higher WHtR (P< 0.01), higher SBP (p<0.001) and a higher cumulative metabolic score (HR: p < 0.001; RSA: p < 0.01). Lower PEP was only associated with higher SBP (p <0.05). Of all children, 5.6% had 3 or more (out of 5) adverse metabolic components; only higher HR was associated with this risk (per 10 bpm increase: OR = 1.56; p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that decreased parasympathetic activity is associated with central adiposity and higher SBP, indicative of increased metabolic risk, already at age 5-6 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center-University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tanja G M
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Vrijkotte
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center-University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bert-Jan H
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: van den Born
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center-University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Christine M C A
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hoekstra
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center-University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Maaike G J
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Gademan
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, Public Health Service of Amsterdam (GGD), Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Manon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Eijsden
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Susanne R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: de Rooij
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marcel T B
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Twickler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055442:Metabolome; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D016017:Odds Ratio; D065809:Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D065927:Waist-Height Ratio
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides