Cardiovascular β-adrenoceptor sensitivity of undernourished subjects

Abstract
1. Eleven normal-weight male subjects (weight/height2 (W/H2) 19.0-225) from a good socio-economic background and on ad lib. food intake, and eight undernourished male labourers (W/H2 16.4–18.6) on low energy intakes, were studied.2. Comparison of cardiovascular responses to increasing single doses of the β-agonist, isoproterenol, showed a significantly greater positive chronotropic dose response in the undernourished subjects.3. Cardiovascular responses to head-up tilt were similar in both the normal-weight and undernourished subjects.4. Undernourished individuals may show an increase in β-adrenoceptor sensitivity which may be akin to a denervation type of supersensitivity as a result of a nutrition-related reduction in sympathetic activity.

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