TITLE:
Association of Body Composition and Aerobic Fitness on Heart Rate Variability and Recovery in Young-Adult Black Men
AUTHORS:
Michael R. Esco, Robert L. Herron, Stephen J. Carter, Andrew A. Flatt
KEYWORDS:
Skinfold Thickness; Waist Circumference; Cardiovascular; Autonomic
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Clinical Medicine,
Vol.4 No.12,
December
18,
2013
ABSTRACT: Background: The
primary purpose of this investigation was to determine the differences in
resting heart rate variability and heart rate recovery between norm-referenced
aerobic fitness groupings, independent of body composition, in Black men.
Additionally, we sought to clarify the independent relationships that heart
rate variability and heart rate recovery displayed with maximal aerobic fitness
and selected body composition measures. Methods: Body mass index, waist circumference, and the sum of skinfold thickness were
determined in forty Black men (23 ± 3 years). Each subject assumed a supine
position while heart rate variability was analyzed for 5-minute and recorded as
normalized high-frequency
power and normalized low-frequency power to normalized high frequency ratio. A
graded exercise treadmill protocol was performed to attain maximal aerobic
fitness. Heart rate recovery was recorded at 1- and 2-minute of a cool-down
period. Heart rate variability and heart rate recovery were compared across two
groups whose maximal aerobic fitness was either below or above the normative
mean value for the age group of men. Results: The results indicated that heart rate variability was higher in the group whose
maximal aerobic fitness was above the normative mean value compared with the lower fit group (p p > 0.05). Regression analysis revealed that the sum of skinfolds accounted for the
variation in normalized high frequency power (R2 = 0.20, p 2 = 0.30, p 2 =
0.20, p Conclusion: The results suggest that
heart rate variability and heart rate recovery hold independent relationships
to body composition but not aerobic fitness in young-adult, Black men.