Changes in Clinically Relevant Metabolites with Psychological Stress Parameters

Psychological stress is associated with increased oxidative stress, a pro-inflammatory state, increased rate of infection, and cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease also is associated with increased stress, homocysteine, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. In this study, the authors measured various markers of psychological stress and correlated with homocysteine, CRP, salivary IgA, and oxidative stress. The results of the study showed that psychological stress is associated with pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory states as evidenced by either decreased NT levels and/or increased CRP concentrations. Conversely, positive or low stress parameters, indicating good life skill mechanisms were associated with increased NT and decreased CRP--indications of a low pro-oxidant state. Homocysteine was associated with increased anger (anger-suppression and anger-experience), psychological parameters associated with cardiovascular disease and also mildly elevated CRP and homocysteine levels. Psychological well-being and stress are correlated with biochemical parameters both positively and negatively in relation to immunity and cardiovascular disease processes. The cross-sectional design and correlational approach used in this study preclude any inferences of causality but suggest several potentially useful avenues for future research.