Effect of food intake on left ventricular wall stress

OBJECTIVE: Left ventricular wall stress has been investigated in a variety of populations, but the effect of food intake has not been evaluated. We assessed whether left ventricular wall stress is affected by food intake in healthy subjects. METHODS: Twenty-three healthy subjects aged 25.6 ± 4.5 years were investigated. Meridional end-systolic wall stress (ESS) and circumferential end-systolic wall stress (cESS) were measured before, 30 minutes after, and 110 minutes after a standardised meal. RESULTS: Both ESS and cESS decreased significantly (P < 0.001) from fasting values 30 minutes after the meal, and had not returned to baseline after 110 minutes. ESS decreased from 65 ± 16 kdynes/cm(2) (fasting) to 44 ± 12 kdynes/cm(2) 30 minutes after, and to 58 ± 13 kdynes/cm(2) 110 minutes after eating. cESS decreased from 98 ± 24 kdynes/cm(2) to 67 ± 18 kdynes/cm(2) 30 minutes after, and to 87 ± 19 kdynes/cm(2) 110 minutes after the meal. CONCLUSION: This study shows that left ventricular wall stress is affected by food intake in healthy subjects.