Alterations in cardiac autonomic function, lipid profile, and arterial stiffness in type 1 diabetic children

We investigated whether alterations in autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity were associated with metabolic. Ten type 1 diabetic children (11.8 +/- 0.8 yr) and ten healthy children (10.7 +/- 0.4 yr) were evaluated for this study. Fourier pulsatility index (PI, Doppler ultrasound signa blood flow using by the Doppler ultrasound signal, clinical features including anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, and biochemical blood profiles including lipid metabolism were measured. The ANS activities were assessed by the means of heart rate variability (HRV) power spectral analysis, which detects the following frequency components: very low-frequency (VLF) reflecting thermogenic sympathetic function; low-frequency (LF), an indicator of sympatho-vagal activity; high-frequency (HF) reflecting parasympathetic activity exclusively; and total power (TOTAL) representing overall ANS activity. All ANS activities including thermogenic sympathetic activity were significantly decreased in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in comparison to control children (Total power, p < 0.01; LF, p < 0.01; HF, p < 0.05 and VLF, p < 0.01). Triglyceride (TG) and TG/HDL-C levels of atherogenic risk profiles were also significantly increased in T1DM children (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). However, Fourier pulsatility index (PI) and blood flow velocity (FLOW) did not show any significant difference between groups. It was concluded that T1DM children might possess significantly lower ANS activities with elevated atherogenic risk factors in comparison with normal children even at the early stage of life. Therefore, it should consider therapies that can reduce these risk factors causing diabetic complications in childhood.