The effects of heart rate variability biofeedback on functional gastrointestinal disorders: a scoping review
BackgroundFunctional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGID) are a group of symptom-based disorders that occur across the alimentary tract and have a high prevalence globally in both adults and children. These symptoms are chronic and/or recurrent and often have substantial effects on quality of life. The...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1511391/full |
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| author | Ashley G. Pereira Lily Fu William Xu Armen A. Gharibans Armen A. Gharibans Armen A. Gharibans Greg O’Grady Greg O’Grady Greg O’Grady |
| author_facet | Ashley G. Pereira Lily Fu William Xu Armen A. Gharibans Armen A. Gharibans Armen A. Gharibans Greg O’Grady Greg O’Grady Greg O’Grady |
| author_sort | Ashley G. Pereira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundFunctional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGID) are a group of symptom-based disorders that occur across the alimentary tract and have a high prevalence globally in both adults and children. These symptoms are chronic and/or recurrent and often have substantial effects on quality of life. Their incidence is tied to multiple factors, including gut-brain axis imbalance, which includes autonomic dysregulation related to a relative withdrawal of vagal activity. Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) is a non-invasive intervention that can influence autonomic activity and has shown benefit for diverse conditions including depression and anxiety, however the evidence of its effect has not yet been systematically assessed in FGIDs. This scoping review aimed to collate and evaluate the available literature regarding HRVB and FGIDs.MethodsWe systematically searched four medical databases. Four interventional studies using HRVB in FGIDs met inclusion criteria.ResultsStudies were heterogeneous, including both paediatric and adult patients, as well different subtypes of FGID. Two of the four studies demonstrated significant symptom improvements from HRVB while the other two found no significant difference.DiscussionOur findings suggested that at least 6 weeks of HRVB is required to observe an impact on FGID symptoms. We provide recommendations for future studies of HRVB in FGIDs, which are needed. Evidence on HRVB for FGID is still emerging, but appears promising when administered optimally. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7b8e195bf67d4d51a27411f6fd9b5875 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-7b8e195bf67d4d51a27411f6fd9b58752025-08-20T01:55:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2025-05-011610.3389/fphys.2025.15113911511391The effects of heart rate variability biofeedback on functional gastrointestinal disorders: a scoping reviewAshley G. Pereira0Lily Fu1William Xu2Armen A. Gharibans3Armen A. Gharibans4Armen A. Gharibans5Greg O’Grady6Greg O’Grady7Greg O’Grady8Department of Surgery, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandDepartment of Surgery, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandDepartment of Surgery, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandDepartment of Surgery, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandAlimetry Ltd, Auckland, New ZealandAuckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandDepartment of Surgery, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandAlimetry Ltd, Auckland, New ZealandAuckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandBackgroundFunctional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGID) are a group of symptom-based disorders that occur across the alimentary tract and have a high prevalence globally in both adults and children. These symptoms are chronic and/or recurrent and often have substantial effects on quality of life. Their incidence is tied to multiple factors, including gut-brain axis imbalance, which includes autonomic dysregulation related to a relative withdrawal of vagal activity. Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) is a non-invasive intervention that can influence autonomic activity and has shown benefit for diverse conditions including depression and anxiety, however the evidence of its effect has not yet been systematically assessed in FGIDs. This scoping review aimed to collate and evaluate the available literature regarding HRVB and FGIDs.MethodsWe systematically searched four medical databases. Four interventional studies using HRVB in FGIDs met inclusion criteria.ResultsStudies were heterogeneous, including both paediatric and adult patients, as well different subtypes of FGID. Two of the four studies demonstrated significant symptom improvements from HRVB while the other two found no significant difference.DiscussionOur findings suggested that at least 6 weeks of HRVB is required to observe an impact on FGID symptoms. We provide recommendations for future studies of HRVB in FGIDs, which are needed. Evidence on HRVB for FGID is still emerging, but appears promising when administered optimally.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1511391/fullheart rate variabilityfunctional gastrointestinal disorderbiofeedbackdisorder of gut brain interactionresonance breathing |
| spellingShingle | Ashley G. Pereira Lily Fu William Xu Armen A. Gharibans Armen A. Gharibans Armen A. Gharibans Greg O’Grady Greg O’Grady Greg O’Grady The effects of heart rate variability biofeedback on functional gastrointestinal disorders: a scoping review Frontiers in Physiology heart rate variability functional gastrointestinal disorder biofeedback disorder of gut brain interaction resonance breathing |
| title | The effects of heart rate variability biofeedback on functional gastrointestinal disorders: a scoping review |
| title_full | The effects of heart rate variability biofeedback on functional gastrointestinal disorders: a scoping review |
| title_fullStr | The effects of heart rate variability biofeedback on functional gastrointestinal disorders: a scoping review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effects of heart rate variability biofeedback on functional gastrointestinal disorders: a scoping review |
| title_short | The effects of heart rate variability biofeedback on functional gastrointestinal disorders: a scoping review |
| title_sort | effects of heart rate variability biofeedback on functional gastrointestinal disorders a scoping review |
| topic | heart rate variability functional gastrointestinal disorder biofeedback disorder of gut brain interaction resonance breathing |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1511391/full |
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