Open AccessEffect of chronic stress and sleep deprivation on both flow‐mediated dilation in the brachial artery and the intracellular magnesium level in humans
Author(s) -
Takase Bonpei,
Akima Takashi,
Uehata Akimi,
Ohsuzu Fumitaka,
Kurita Akira
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.4960270411
Subject(s) - brachial artery , medicine , vasodilation , magnesium , vasoconstriction , endothelium , intracellular , cardiology , endothelial dysfunction , anesthesia , endocrinology , blood pressure , materials science , metallurgy , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
Background : Chronic mental and physical stress has been suggested to be a trigger for cardiovascular events. In addition, a reduction in levels of intracellular magnesium has been reported to cause vasoconstriction while enhancing platelet‐dependent thrombosis. Hypothesis : The purpose of this study was to investigate whether chronic stress affects endothelial function and intra‐cellular magnesium levels in humans. Methods : Flow‐mediated dilation (endothelium‐dependent vasodilation) and sublingual nitroglycerin‐induced dilation (0.3 mg, endothelium‐independent vasodilation) were measured in the brachial artery in 30 healthy male college students, aged 22 ± 1 years, using high‐resolution ultrasound both before and immediately after a 4‐week final term examination period. Erythrocyte magnesium concentration was measured simultaneously. All students had chronic sleep deprivation for 4 weeks, during which sleep lasted < 80% of that on ordinary days; in addition, the students were under great stress to pass the examination. This condition was considered to be chronic stress. Results : Chronic stress decreased flow‐mediated dilation and erythrocyte magnesium concentration (from 7.4 ± 3.0 to 3.7 ± 2.3%, p < 0.05; from 5.7 ± 0.4 to 5.5 ± 0.4 mg/ml, p < 0.05, respectively). The change in flow‐mediated dilation correlated significantly with that of the erythrocyte magnesium concentration (r = 0.43, p < 0.05), but not with nitroglycerin‐induced dilation. Conclusions : Chronic stress was found to attenuate endo‐thelial function, which may also be associated with a reduction in the intracellular magnesium level in humans.