In:
American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, American Physiological Society, Vol. 320, No. 5 ( 2021-05-01), p. G700-G711
Abstract:
This study was designed to investigate whether transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS) would be able to improve major pathophysiologies of functional dyspepsia (FD) in patients with FD. Thirty-six patients with FD (21 F) were studied in two sessions (taVNS and sham-ES). Physiological measurements, including gastric slow waves, gastric accommodation, and autonomic functions, were assessed by the electrogastrogram (EGG), a nutrient drink test and the spectral analysis of heart rate variability derived from the electrocardiogram (ECG), respectively. Thirty-six patients with FD (25 F) were randomized to receive 2-wk taVNS or sham-ES. The dyspeptic symptom scales, anxiety and depression scores, and the same physiological measurements were assessed at the beginning and the end of the 2-wk treatment. In comparison with sham-ES, acute taVNS improved gastric accommodation ( P = 0.008), increased the percentage of normal gastric slow waves (%NSW, fasting: P = 0.010; fed: P = 0.007) and vagal activity (fasting: P = 0.056; fed: P = 0.026). In comparison with baseline, 2-wk taVNS but not sham-ES reduced symptoms of dyspepsia ( P = 0.010), decreased the scores of anxiety ( P = 0.002) and depression ( P 〈 0.001), and improved gastric accommodation ( P 〈 0.001) and the %NSW (fasting: P 〈 0.05; fed: P 〈 0.05) by enhancing vagal efferent activity (fasting: P = 0.015; fed: P = 0.048). Compared with the HC, the patients showed increased anxiety ( P 〈 0.001) and depression ( P 〈 0.001), and decreased gastric accommodation ( P 〈 0.001) and %NSW ( P 〈 0.001) as well as decreased vagal activity (fasting: P = 0.047). The noninvasive taVNS has a therapeutic potential for treating nonsevere FD by improving gastric accommodation and gastric pace-making activity via enhancing vagal activity. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Treatment of functional dyspepsia is difficult due to various pathophysiological factors. The proposed method of transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation improves symptoms of both dyspepsia and depression/anxiety, and gastric functions (accommodation and slow waves), possibly mediated via the enhancement of vagal efferent activity. This noninvasive and easy-to-implement neuromodulation method will be well received by patients and healthcare providers.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0193-1857
,
1522-1547
DOI:
10.1152/ajpgi.00426.2020
Language:
English
Publisher:
American Physiological Society
Publication Date:
2021
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1477329-6
SSG:
12
Permalink
