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January 17, 2024
A new study has uncovered a significant link between stress, inflammation, and the development of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that elevate the risk of major health issues. The research, conducted by experts at The Ohio State University, suggests that stress management could play a crucial role in improving biological health outcomes and potentially reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome.
The study, recently published in Brain, Behavior, & Immunity – Health, focused on individuals in midlife, a critical period that can determine the trajectory of aging and health. Stress, due to its ability to increase inflammation in the body, was identified as a contributing factor to metabolic syndrome.
Senior author Jasmeet Hayes, associate professor of psychology at The Ohio State University, emphasized the importance of stress management in midlife, stating, “Stress is an important contributor to several negative health outcomes as we age. There are many variables that influence metabolic syndrome, some we can’t modify, but others that we can.”
The study, which utilized data from a national survey titled Midlife in the United States, involved 648 participants with an average age of 52. The analysis considered perceived stress reported by participants, blood biomarkers for inflammation, and physical exam results indicating risk factors for metabolic syndrome.
“People think of stress as mental health, that it’s all psychological. It is not. There are real physical effects to having chronic stress,” highlighted Hayes. The study showed that stress has a relationship with metabolic syndrome, and inflammation explains a significant portion of that connection—61.5%, to be precise.
Metabolic syndrome is diagnosed when individuals exhibit at least three of five factors increasing the risk for heart disease, diabetes, and other health issues. These factors include excess belly fat, high blood pressure, low HDL (good) cholesterol, and high levels of fasting blood glucose and triglycerides.
Savana Jurgens, a psychology graduate student in Hayes’ lab and the study’s first author, emphasized the rarity of research that considers all three variables—stress, inflammation, and metabolic syndrome—simultaneously. The study’s statistical modeling demonstrated that inflammation played a crucial role, explaining over half of the connection between stress and metabolic syndrome.
While stress is just one contributing factor among many, understanding its role and connection to inflammation provides valuable insights into potential interventions for preventing or mitigating metabolic syndrome. The study underscores the importance of addressing stress, not just as a mental health concern, but as a significant factor impacting overall physical health.
As an estimated one in three American adults is affected by metabolic syndrome, the findings carry implications for public health strategies and underscore the broader impact of stress on biological health.
