Heart rate variability, daily cortisol indices and their association with psychometric characteristics and gut microbiota composition in an Italian community sample.

ABSTRACT: The microbiota-gut-brain axis is a complex communication system that plays a crucial role in influencing various aspects of our physical and mental health. The goal of this study was to determine the extent to which individual differences in resting measures of vagally-mediated heart rate variability (HRV) and cortisol levels were associated with psychometric and specific gut microbiota characteristics in seventy-five (38 females) healthy individuals. Participants were assessed for vagally-mediated HRV, daily salivary cortisol levels, psychometric characteristics, and gut microbiota composition. Using a categorical approach based on the median split of HRV and cortisol values, we identified an association between low vagally-mediated HRV, greater depressive symptomatology, and altered gut

SUBMITTER: Ravenda S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11903775 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature