Comparison between Fast Fourier Transform and Autoregressive Model on Analysis of Autonomic Nervous Function after Food Intake in Women

Purpose: Heart rate variability (HRV) is acknowledged as a useful tool to estimate autonomic function. Fast Fourier transform (FFT) and autoregressive model (AR) are used for power spectral analysis of HRV. However, there is little evidence of agreement between FFT and AR in relation to HRV following food intake in females. In the present study, we applied both FFT and AR after food intake during the follicular and luteal phases, and compared raw low-frequency (LF) and highfrequency (HF) powers, and LF/HF ratio obtained with the two power-spectral analytical methods. Methods: All subjects participated in two sessions: follicular phase session and luteal phase session. In each session, R-R intervals were continuously recorded before and after meals, and power spectral analysis of heart rate variability was performed. We analyzed low-frequency power (LF: 0.04 0.15 Hz) and high-frequency power (HF: 0.15 0.40 Hz) by using FFT and AR. LF and HF power were computed for each 30 sec, 1 min, 2.5 min, and 5 min of the 5-min R-R data before meal intake and at 20, 40, 60 and 80 min after meal intake. The LF/HF ratio was calculated as an index of sympathovagal balance. Results: In the present study, after 30 sec and 1 min of segment analysis, there was little interchangeability between AR and FFT in LF, HF, and LF/HF ratio in both follicular and luteal phases. In 2.5 min or 5 min of segment analysis, there was interchangeability between FFT and AR in LF and HF, but not in the LF/HF ratio in both follicular and luteal phases. Additionally, FFT underestimated HRV compared with AR, and the extent of underestimation increased with increasing AR value. Conclusion: FFT underestimated HRV compared with AR, and FFT correlated poorly with AR when the analysis segment was shortened. Corresponding author.