Effects of Autonomic Nervous System Modulation by Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Training With Resonant Frequency Breathing on Glucose Metabolism in Individuals With Prediabetes

Overview

Approximately 20% of adults have prediabetes in Germany. Prediabetes is defined as a condition with glucose levels outside the normal range but not yet meeting the criteria for type 2 diabetes. The pathogenesis of prediabetes, as well as of type 2 diabetes, involves whole-body insulin resistance associated with inadequate insulin secretion. These two central processes of glucose regulation are modulated by the brain. The brain communicates via the autonomic nervous system (ANS) with metabolically important organs in the periphery to modulate insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion. These processes are impaired in individuals with prediabetes and diabetes. An ANS sympathovagal imbalance has also been observed in individuals with prediabetes. There are no specific therapeutic approaches to improve ANS sympathovagal imbalance. It is assumed that resonant frequency breathing (RFB) maximizes heart rate variability (HRV) through rhythmization of breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure. Through this state of coherence, the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system is upregulated, and the activity of the sympathetic nervous system is suppressed, leading to an increase in modulation of ANS activity. Several studies have demonstrated that heart rate variability-biofeedback (HRV-BF) interventions improve HRV, reduce stress and anxiety, and alleviate symptoms in patients with various medical conditions. To the best of current knowledge, no study has investigated the effect of HRV-BF-RFB on glucose metabolism. Therefore, the proposed randomized controlled non-blinded trial aims to gain evidence about the effect of HRV-BF-RFB compared to an anti-stress program on glucose metabolism in individuals with prediabetes. Glucose metabolism is characterized using the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. There are two potential mechanisms by which HRV-BF-RFB may improve glucose metabolism in individuals with prediabetes: (a) a 0°-phase relationship between heart oscillations and breathing, maximizing the amplitude of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), and (b) activation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. The investigators hypothesized that in individuals with prediabetes, the HRV-BF-RFB intervention will improve glucose metabolism and glucose variability.

Interventions

• Behavioral Resonance frequency breathing with heart rate variability biofeedback training
  During training, a ball that expands (breathe in) and shrinks (breathe out) on the screen specified the breathing frequency goal to a value of six cycles per minute (five seconds inspiration, five seconds expiration). The HRV was visualized by new symbols varying in color depending on the respectively measured values, which appeared every ten seconds. When the participants achieved the specified breathing frequency, resulting in an increased sinus arrhythmia, the symbols appearing on the smartph
• Behavioral Anti-Stress program
  The mobile system eSense Pulse from Mindfield Biosystems is used for the digital anti-stress program. To do this, the participants put on a chest strap with a sensor and can start training via the eSense app. The anti-stress program is carried out using a procedure generated for the study. During the anti-stress program units, the participants receive application-related information and tips to better understand the topic of stress, identify stressors in their own lives and reduce stress. The ac

Primary outcome measures

• Glucose metabolism [Time frame: Baseline, four weeks, and eight weeks.]

Secondary outcome measures (1)

• Glucose stimulated insulin secretion [Time frame: Baseline, four weeks, and eight weeks.]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Presence of prediabetes Fasting glucose: 100-125 mg/dl (5.6-6.9 mmol/L) and/or HbA1c in %: 5.7-6.4 (39-47 mmol/mol Hb) and/or 2-hour value of the 75 g OGTT: 140-199 mg/dl (7.8-11.0 mmol/L)

• This is checked using a 75 g OGTT in a screening visit.
• Age between 18 and 65 years
• BMI between 20 and 40 kg/m²

Exclusion criteria

• Diabetes mellitus
• Malignant diseases within the last 5 years before randomization
• History of gastrointestinal surgery
• Pancreatic diseases other than pancreatic lipomatosis
• Acute diseases or infections
• Regular intake of cardiac drugs that affect heart rate within the last 4 weeks before the first measurement (e.g. beta-receptor blockers, antiarrhythmics, etc.)
• Intake of centrally acting drugs
• Medical contraindications to a meaningful interpretation of the heart rate analysis (e.g. patients with pacemakers, atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias)
• Chronic diseases (particularly metabolic diseases, heart diseases, blood diseases)
• Endocrinological disease other than substituted hypothyroidism
• Mental illnesses
• Intake of drugs that can affect blood sugar metabolism (e.g. steroids)

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Single blind

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

Germany · 2 centers

• University Medical Center Mainz - Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology — Mainz
• University Medical Center of the Johannes-Gutenberg University, Department of Medical Psyc — Mainz

Publications

• Herhaus B, Thesing G, Conrad R, Petrowski K. Alterations in heart rate variability and pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha in individuals with panic disorder. Psychiatry Res. 2023 Apr;322:115107. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115107. Epub 2023 Feb 12. PMID 36796202
• Herhaus B, Siepmann M, Kahaly GJ, Conrad R, Petrowski K. Effect of a Biofeedback Intervention on Heart Rate Variability in Individuals With Panic Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Psychosom Med. 2022 Feb-Mar 01;84(2):199-209. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000001031. PMID 34654028
• Herhaus B, Kalin A, Gouveris H, Petrowski K. Mobile Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Improves Autonomic Activation and Subjective Sleep Quality of Healthy Adults - A Pilot Study. Front Physiol. 2022 Feb 17;13:821741. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.821741. eCollection 2022. PMID 35250623
• Herhaus B, Conrad R, Petrowski K. Effect of a slow-paced breathing with heart rate variability biofeedback intervention on pro-inflammatory cytokines in individuals with panic disorder - A randomized controlled trial. J Affect Disord. 2023 Apr 1;326:132-138. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.091. Epub 2023 Jan 28. PMID 36720404
• Heni M, Wagner R, Willmann C, Jaghutriz BA, Vosseler A, Kubler C, Hund V, Scheffler K, Peter A, Haring HU, Preissl H, Kullmann S, Fritsche A. Insulin Action in the Hypothalamus Increases Second-Phase Insulin Secretion in Humans. Neuroendocrinology. 2020;110(11-12):929-937. doi: 10.1159/000504551. Epub 2019 Nov 5. PMID 31689708
• Heni M, Wagner R, Kullmann S, Veit R, Mat Husin H, Linder K, Benkendorff C, Peter A, Stefan N, Haring HU, Preissl H, Fritsche A. Central insulin administration improves whole-body insulin sensitivity via hypothalamus and parasympathetic outputs in men. Diabetes. 2014 Dec;63(12):4083-8. doi: 10.2337/db14-0477. Epub 2014 Jul 15. PMID 25028522
• Heni M, Wagner R, Kullmann S, Gancheva S, Roden M, Peter A, Stefan N, Preissl H, Haring HU, Fritsche A. Hypothalamic and Striatal Insulin Action Suppresses Endogenous Glucose Production and May Stimulate Glucose Uptake During Hyperinsulinemia in Lean but Not in Overweight Men. Diabetes. 2017 Jul;66(7):1797-1806. doi: 10.2337/db16-1380. Epub 2017 Feb 7. PMID 28174292

Identifiers

NCT: NCT06739993 · 2022-16489 · 540546352

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗