Abstract
Introduction:
Stress predicts unhealthy eating, obesity, and metabolic deterioration, likely mediated by altered levels of appetite-regulating hormones. Yet, evidence regarding the association between long-term stress and levels of appetite-regulating hormones in humans is lacking.
Methods:
We included 65 patients with obesity (44 women) to investigate the cross-sectional association of long-term biological stress (scalp hair cortisol and cortisone) and long-term psychological stress (Perceived Stress Scale) with overnight-fasted serum levels of the hormonal appetite regulators leptin, adiponectin, insulin, pancreatic polypeptide, gastric-inhibitory peptide, peptide tyrosine-tyrosine, cholecystokinin and agouti-related protein, adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index.
Results:
Hair cortisone and, in trend, hair cortisol were positively associated with cholecystokinin (p = 0.003 and p = 0.058, respectively). No other associations between stress measures and hormonal appetite regulators were observed.
Conclusion:
Long-term biological stress, measured using scalp hair glucocorticoid levels, is associated with elevated levels of circulating cholecystokinin. More research is needed to pinpoint potential effects on appetite.
Stress predicts unhealthy eating, obesity, and metabolic deterioration, likely mediated by altered levels of appetite-regulating hormones. Yet, evidence regarding the association between long-term stress and levels of appetite-regulating hormones in humans is lacking.
Methods:
We included 65 patients with obesity (44 women) to investigate the cross-sectional association of long-term biological stress (scalp hair cortisol and cortisone) and long-term psychological stress (Perceived Stress Scale) with overnight-fasted serum levels of the hormonal appetite regulators leptin, adiponectin, insulin, pancreatic polypeptide, gastric-inhibitory peptide, peptide tyrosine-tyrosine, cholecystokinin and agouti-related protein, adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index.
Results:
Hair cortisone and, in trend, hair cortisol were positively associated with cholecystokinin (p = 0.003 and p = 0.058, respectively). No other associations between stress measures and hormonal appetite regulators were observed.
Conclusion:
Long-term biological stress, measured using scalp hair glucocorticoid levels, is associated with elevated levels of circulating cholecystokinin. More research is needed to pinpoint potential effects on appetite.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Obesity Facts |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 21 Oct 2024 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2024 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.
