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Children's stress‐related reports and stress biomarkers interact in their association with metabolic syndrome risk
Author(s) -
Michels Nathalie,
Matthys Dante,
Thumann Barbara,
Marild Staffan,
De Henauw Stefaan
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
stress and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1532-2998
pISSN - 1532-3005
DOI - 10.1002/smi.2813
Subject(s) - metabolic syndrome , morning , overweight , medicine , waist , cortisol awakening response , endocrinology , biomarker , heart rate , blood pressure , obesity , cross sectional study , heart rate variability , hydrocortisone , physiology , biology , biochemistry , pathology
The purpose was to examine the cross‐sectional associations of stress‐related reports and stress biomarkers with metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk in children while also testing the interaction between stress biomarkers and stress reports. In 353 children (5–10 years old, 7.9% overweight/obese), MetS risk was measured by blood pressure, waist circumference, glucose homeostasis, triglycerides, and high‐density cholesterol. Stress was measured by stress‐related reports (events, emotions, and internalizing/externalizing problems) and two biomarkers: salivary cortisol (total‐day and morning output) and heart rate variability (percentage of consecutive normal RR intervals differing more than 50 ms and low‐to‐high‐frequency ratio). Cross‐sectional regression analyses with z scored total MetS risk as outcome were adjusted for age, sex, and socio‐economic status. Only internalizing problems were directly related to a higher MetS risk score (β = 0.236). Cortisol and heart rate variability were significant moderators: High cortisol morning output resulted in a positive (unfavourable) report–MetS relationship (β = 0.259–0.552), whereas low percentage of consecutive normal RR intervals differing more than 50 ms resulted in a negative (favourable) report–MetS relationship (β = −0.298) and low low‐to‐high‐frequency ratio in a positive (unfavourable) report–MetS relationship (β = 0.478). In conclusion, stress can sometimes be a disadvantageous factor in metabolic health of otherwise healthy children. The cortisol biomarker seems relevant because metabolic risk was highest when stress‐related reports were accompanied by high morning cortisol output.