Physiological responses to psychological stress: importance of adiposity in men aged 50–70 years

Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that overweight/obese men aged 50–70 years will have a greater salivary cortisol, salivary alpha amylase and heart rate (HR) responses to psychological stress compared with age matched lean men. Lean (BMI=20–25 kg/m2; n=19) and overweight/obese (BMI=27–35 kg/m2; n=17) men (50–70 years) were subjected to a well-characterised psychological stress (Trier Social Stress Test, TSST) at 1500 h. Concentrations of cortisol and alpha amylase were measured in saliva samples collected every 7–15 min from 1400 to 1700 h. HR was recorded using electrocardiogram. Body weight, BMI, percentage body fat, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure were significantly higher (P<0.05) in overweight/obese men compared with lean men. Both groups responded to the TSST with a substantial elevation in salivary cortisol (372%), salivary alpha amylase (123%) and HR (22%). These responses did not differ significantly between the groups (time×treatment interaction for salivary cortisol, salivary alpha amylase and HR; P=0.187, P=0.288, P=0.550, respectively). There were no significant differences between the groups for pretreatment values, peak height, difference between pretreatment values and peak height (reactivity) or area under the curve for salivary cortisol, salivary alpha amylase or HR (P>0.05 for all). The results showed that, for men with a moderate level of overweight/obesity who were otherwise healthy, the response of salivary cortisol, salivary alpha amylase and HR to acute psychological stress was not impaired.

Cortisol Stress Reactivity to the Trier Social Stress Test in Obese Adults

“…In contrast to the present results, the studies by Lorig et al [17] and Benson et al [21] demonstrated a main effect of obesity in the cortisol response. However, Jayasinghe et al [18], McInnis et al [20], and Therrien et al [19] indicated no significant difference in the cortisol response between obese and normal-weight women during the TSST which is in line with the present results.…”

“…The results of the studies by Benson et al [21], Jayasinghe et al [18], and Therrien et al [19] indicated a magnitude of the cortisol response between 82 and 372% increase to the TSST. Our study demonstrated a 275% increase in the cortisol concentration of both groups and a 327% increase in the obese individuals.…”

“…In spite of the cortisol metabolism-influencing transformation-enzyme 11β-HSD 1 , there is no clear evidence in the cortisol reactivity using the TSST. A possible explanation might be the unclear classification into obese and normal-weight adults with regard to the BMI [18]. Benson et al [21] demonstrated higher cortisol reactivity in a BMI group of 38.2 kg/m 2 in contrast to the control group with an average BMI of 23.1 kg/m 2 .…”

“…Concerning people with obesity classified by BMI, there are studies which demonstrated a greater cortisol response to the TSST in obese individuals [17, 21], but others found no main group effect [18-20]. Thereby, it must be considered that in these studies different ranges of obesity (Class I to III) and age (18–70 years) were included as well as only one study investigated the effect of gender on the cortisol reactivity in obese individuals [19].…”

Impact of Fighting on Antibody Response to Hepatitis B Virus Vaccine in Mice

“…To confirm this, serum testosterone and estradiol were detected in male BALB/c mice immunized with the HBV vaccine, but not statistical significant difference was found at the levels of two sex hormones between the fighting mice and the mice without fighting experience, suggesting that sex hormones might not be involved in the fighting-enhanced antibody response to vaccines. Because that exercise and psychological stress can activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (corticosterone) response and the sympathetic nervous system (norepinephrine and epinephrine) response, resulting in a range of rapid physiological and behavioral responses (10,12), next the study tested whether fighting, a behavior complicated with intense exercise and psychological stress, might affect antibody production through the stress hormones. It was observed that administration with hydrocortisone or norepinephrine by intravenous injection to the tail significantly decreased rather than increased the levels of HBsAb to HBV vaccine in both the male and the female BALB/c mice.…”