Pain response during fasting and postprandial conditions in healthy young Indian males

Indu Saxena; Manoj Kumar; Anjali Verma

Indu Saxena Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Manoj Kumar Department of Physiology, Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College and Research Centre, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Uttar Pradesh, India
Anjali Verma Department of Physiology, Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College and Research Centre, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Uttar Pradesh, India

Keywords: Cold pressor task, Experimental pain, Fasting, Pain threshold, Pain tolerance

Abstract

Background and Aim: The amount of pain perceived in response to a pain stimulus varies from person to person, and under different conditions in the same person. It can be estimated in terms of cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) and pain sensitivity (PS). The cold pressor task has been successfully used to induce experimental pain in human subjects. Low blood glucose levels have been associated with increased scores of anger and frustration. Therefore, in the present study we have compared the response to experimental pain produced, in subjects in their fasting and fed states. Methods: Cold pressor task was performed on 86 subjects in the fasting and ½‑h postprandial (PP) states. The pain response was measured in terms of changes in pulse and blood pressure as CVR parameter and pain threshold, tolerance, and rating as PS parameters. Data were analyzed by comparing CVR and PS in fasting and ½‑h PP condition by Student’s t‑test, Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression analysis. Results: Pain threshold and tolerance increased significantly in the ½‑h PP state without significant change in the CVR. Significant positive correlation was obtained between blood glucose level and PS. Multiple regression analysis also showed significant independent contribution of blood glucose to pain threshold and tolerance. Conclusion: Increase in blood glucose levels in the ½‑h PP state increases the pain threshold and tolerance, making it easier for the subjects to bear pain.