Potential roles of psychological and oxidative stress in insulin resistance: a cohort-based study

Abstract

Background: The present study investigated the relationships between psychological stress indices and oxidative stress marker, also when combined with emergent insulin resistance (IR), in the non-diabetic, middle-aged subjects, exposed to frequent/chronic psychological stressors. Methods: Cross-sectional data from a cohort of non-diabetic police officers (n = 234; 19F), aged 27-56 years, were used. Plasma inflammatory (CRP, TNF-α), oxidative stress (free 8-iso-prostaglandin F 2α ; 8-iso-PGF 2α) markers, and insulin were measured. The value of homeostasis model assessment of IR index (HOMA-IR) was assumed the threshold value of IR, i.e. 2.04. Free cortisol in urine and perceived stress (psychological stress indices) were also measured. Results: In the IR subjects, most biochemical variables, inflammatory markers and urine cortisol were significantly higher, as compared to the non-IR ones. Psychological stress indices were associated with plasma 8-iso-PGF 2α [B = 0.139, 95% CI (0.048, 0.230), p = 0.002, and B = 0.007, 95% CI (0.0006, 0.014), p = 0.03; for perceived stress level and cortisol, respectively]. Positive associations were established between plasma 8-iso-PGF 2α [B = 0.069, 95% CI (0.016-0.120), p = 0.01] and urine cortisol [B = 0.003, 95% CI (0.0003, 0.005), p = 0.02] with HOMA-IR. Metabolic syndrome, as defined by IDF criteria, was established in 110 study subjects, whereas 136 of them were hypertensive. Waist circumference [B = 0.056, 95% CI (0.039, 0.074), p < 0.0001], and systolic blood pressure [B = 0.009, 95% CI (0.00003, 0.018), p = 0.04] were positively associated with HOMA-IR, whereas the association of HDL cholesterol [B = − 0.597, 95% CI (− 1.139, − 0.055), p = 0.03] was a negative one. Cortisol [OR = 1.007, 95% CI (1.002, 1.012), p = 0.006], and 8-iso-PGF 2α [OR = 1.103, 95% CI (1.010, 1.201), p = 0.02] affected the incidence of IR. After adjustment for metabolic syndrome (or its components), age, sex, and current smoking, the effects became non-significant. Out of metabolic syndrome components, waist circumference [OR 4.966, 95% CI (2.29, 10.751), p = 0.00004] and hypertriglyceridemia [OR 1.993, 95% CI (1.063, 3.736), p = 0.03] increased the chance of IR incidence. Conclusions: Both psychological stress indices were associated with oxidative stress, but only cortisol with HOMA-IR. In the subjects exposed to frequent/chronic psychological stressors, cortisol and oxidative stress marker affected IR incidence, being statistically attenuated, though, following adjustment for metabolic syndrome, or its components.

The Associations of Perceived and Oxidative Stress with Hypertension in a Cohort of Police Officers

“…51 In the present study, glucose also contributed to the prevalence of hypertension, whereas the association of insulin resistance with hypertension had previously been highlighted. 21 Although large antioxidant supplementation trials, as pursued in the populations deemed exposed to high cardiovascular risk, exerted no mitigating effect on blood pressure, it was nevertheless demonstrated that the hypotensive effect of angiotensinconverting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and Ang 1 receptor blockers was owed to inhibiting NADPH oxidase and decreased ROS production. 52,53 Oxidative stress might be a contributing factor, as neither genetic, nor behavioural factors, nor indeed psychological stress at large, are fully capable of conclusively explaining the actual pathomechanism of hypertension.…”

“…On the other hand, ROS stimulate a pro-inflammatory signalling pathway, linking oxidative stress with inflammatory state and also in insulin resistance and MetS. 18,21,57 In a stressful situation, both an ingestion of calories-rich foods, and anaboliccatabolic imbalance (high cortisol, insulin, low levels of the opposite hormones), may lead to oxidative stress, and systemic inflammation associated with MetS.…”

“…[16][17][18][19] Studies on the relations of oxidative stress markers and MetS, or with some of its components, are rather scarce, and their outcomes inconclusive. 16,18,20,21 There are no published studies, though, taking into account both the perceived and oxidative stress, and their association with MetS components. Police officers are widely acknowledged to be exposed to more stressors than individuals pursuing other occupations, also a systematic review of published studies has attested to this exposure to stressors having been associated with CVD risk.…”

Dysregulated responses to stress and weight in people with type 2 diabetes

“…Changes in diurnal cortisol output have been implicated in the pathogenesis of both obesity [ 25 ] and T2D [ 26 ] in observational studies. While interrelationships between basal cortisol, chronic stress and components of the metabolic syndrome such as high adiposity and insulin resistance have been observed [ 27 ], it is possible that cortisol responses to stress elevate disease risk through other pathways [ 10 ]. Research is required to test this notion.…”

Associations between social, biologic, and behavioral factors and biomarkers of oxidative stress during pregnancy: Findings from four ECHO cohorts

“…8-isoprostane-prostaglandin F 2α (8-isoPGF 2α ), a measure of lipid peroxidation, is widely considered to be the 'gold standard' biomarker of oxidative stress (Kadiiska et al, 2017;Roberts and Morrow, 2000). 8-isoPGF 2α is elevated in response to numerous environmental chemical and non-chemical stressors that may be reflective of a socioeconomic disadvantage, such as low educational attainment and smoking status (Cathey et al, 2021;Eick et al, 2018;Janczura et al, 2020;Ferguson et al, 2015a;van der Plas et al, 2019). Prior studies also suggest that certain biological factors, such as obesity, predispose individuals to elevated levels of 8-isoPGF 2α (Marseglia et al, 2014).…”