Body fat and sympathetic nerve activity in healthy subjects.

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Abstract
BACKGROUNDObesity is associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular complications, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. In experimental animals, overfeeding is associated with sympathetic activation, and there is evidence that adrenergic mechanisms contribute to cardiovascular complications.METHODS AND RESULTSWe recorded resting postganglionic sympathetic nerve discharge (using intraneural microelectrodes) to skeletal muscle blood vessels in 37 healthy subjects covering a broad spectrum of percent body fat. To assess potential functional consequences of sympathetic nerve discharge, we simultaneously measured calf vascular resistance and energy expenditure. The resting rate of sympathetic nerve discharge to skeletal muscle was directly correlated with body mass index (r = .67, P < .0001) and percent body fat (r = .64, P < .0001). In addition to body fat, muscle sympathetic nerve activity was correlated with age (r = .40, P < .02), plasma insulin concentration (r = .34, P < .04), and plasma la...