Abstract
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of different eating times on blood circulation index, pulse wave energy (E), and radial augmentation index (RAI) of healthy adult men. METHODS: Blood circulation index, E, and RAI were measured using a three-dimensional (3-D) pulse imaging system (3-D MAC) at before, right after, 30 minutes after, 1 hour after, and 2 hours after eating. RESULTS: In the blood circulation index, heart rate (HR), estimated cardiac output (ECO), and estimated cardiac output index (ECI) increased significantly right after eating compared to before eating. By contrast, estimated circulation resistance (ECR) and estimated circulation resistance index (ECRI) decreased significantly right after eating compared to before eating. E had a tendency to increase right after eating compared to before eating and decrease gradually at every experimental point (left and right Chon, Kwan, and Cheok). RAI had a tendency to decrease right after eating compared to before eating and increase gradually at every experimental point. CONCLUSIONS: Different eating times can bring about changes on blood circulation index, E, and RAI. These changes show a certain tendency and coincide with the physiological factors that eating causes a rise of HR, an increase of systolic cardiac pump performance, and a reduction of peripheral vascular resistance.