Key result
Stressful life events linked to ~16% higher metabolic syndrome risk in men with elevated cortisol.
Why the study?
Psychological factors and stressful life events are considered to play a role in the onset of metabolic syndrome, but their association with cortisol and metabolic syndrome risk was tested.
Is the experience of stressful life events associated with metabolic syndrome, and does serum cortisol modify this relationship in healthy men?
Cross-Sectional (n=149)
Is the experience of stressful life events associated with metabolic syndrome, and does serum cortisol modify this relationship in healthy men?
Relative Risk: 1.16
p-value: p=0.03
Stressful life events are associated with a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome in men, particularly in those with elevated serum cortisol levels.
Life events associated with metabolic syndrome only in high-cortisol men; hypothesis-generating, needs prospective validation.
Psychological factors and stressful life events (LE) are considered to play a role in the onset of the metabolic syndrome (MS). We tested the association between LE and cortisol, a marker of chronic stress, with the risk of developing MS and their interaction. From a total number of 2906 men who completed a screening for the early detection of prostate cancer, 149 healthy men (mean ± SD age, 58.6 ± 7.7 years) were included in this study. Participants were assessed by the Holmes and Rahe questionnaire about their experience of LE during the previous 1-5 years. MS was diagnosed according to National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP-III) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. Serum cortisol was measured at 08:00-09:00 h. Participants with MS (IDF criteria) reported significantly more past LE (p = 0.009) and greater summed weight of LE (p = 0.049) than those without MS. Furthermore, LE interacted with cortisol in relation to MS: in men with increased serum cortisol levels ( ≥ 13.7 μg/dl), number of LE significantly predicted MS-status (relative risk (RR) = 1.16, p = 0.03), whereas in men with low cortisol, LE were unrelated to MS (p = 0.52). We conclude that LE were significantly more prevalent in men with the MS than without the MS, according to IDF criteria, independent of the effects of age and body mass index, especially in men with increased serum cortisol levels.
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Fabre et al. (2012) conducted a cross-sectional in Metabolic syndrome (n=149). Stressful life events vs. Fewer stressful life events was evaluated on Metabolic syndrome status (RR 1.16, p=0.03). In men with increased serum cortisol levels (≥13.7 μg/dl), the number of stressful life events significantly predicted metabolic syndrome status (RR 1.16, p=0.03).
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