Postprandial Changes in Thoracic Aortic Flow Detected by 4D Flow MRI May Influence Study Results

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Medical Physics
• Physiology

Background:

• 4D flow MRI is increasingly used for thoracic aorta blood flow assessment.
• Physiological variations, like postprandial changes, may impact hemodynamic data.
• Understanding these variations is crucial for accurate interpretation and comparisons.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of food intake on thoracic aorta hemodynamics.
• To assess changes in flow parameters after a meal in healthy volunteers.
• To determine the significance of postprandial effects in 4D flow MRI studies.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study involving 20 healthy young volunteers (10 male, 10 female).
• Utilized 3T/4D flow MRI with specific parameters (e.g., respiratory navigator, ECG gating).
• Acquired thoracic aorta images in both fasting and postprandial states for comparison.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant increases in stroke volume, peak flow, and velocity were observed postprandially.
• Average increases included: stroke volume (5%), peak flow (9%), peak average velocity (8%), and maximum velocity (11%).
• 74% of participants showed increased peak flow and velocities throughout the aorta after eating.

Conclusions:

• Food intake induces a measurable increase in aortic hemodynamics in healthy individuals.
• The observed changes, while small, are statistically significant.
• Fasting prior to 4D flow MRI may be advisable to standardize measurements and avoid postprandial hyperemia effects, particularly for longitudinal studies.