Abstract
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a highly prevalent disorder defined as a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors including obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. It is believed that excessive cortisol secretion due to psychosocial stress-induced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation might be involved in the pathogenesis of MetS. We sought to explore the association between MetS and psychosocial risk factors, as well as cortisol concentration measured in different biological specimens including saliva, blood serum, and hair samples. The study was conducted on a sample of 163 young and middle-aged men who were divided into groups according to the presence of MetS. Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) was determined using high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection, while blood serum and salivary cortisol levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Lipid metabolism biomarkers were determined using routine laboratory methods. Anthropometric and lifestyle characteristics, as well as self-reported psychosocial indicators, were also examined. Significantly higher HCC and lower social support level among participants with MetS compared with individuals without MetS were found. However, no significant differences in blood serum and salivary cortisol levels were observed between men with and without MetS. In conclusion, chronically elevated cortisol concentration might be a potential contributing factor to the development of MetS.
Highlights
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities including abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertension, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and elevated triacylglycerol (TAG) concentration [1]
The major objective of this study was to explore the associations between MetS and cortisol concentration measured in different biospecimens including blood serum, saliva, and hair samples in young and middleaged men
We found significant relationship between Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) and participants’ waist circumference (WC), resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure values, and fasting glucose concentration
Summary
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities including abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertension, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and elevated triacylglycerol (TAG) concentration [1]. MetS is associated with a 5-fold increased risk for type 2 diabetes and two times higher risk for the development of cardiovascular diseases which are the leading cause of death worldwide [1,2]. It is estimated that about one quarter of the world population is affected with MetS. The cost of MetS including informal care provided by family and direct costs of medical care, as well as loss of potential economic activity, is in trillions [3]. MetS has become increasingly prevalent among young and middle-aged adults living in economically developed countries [4]. The pathogenesis of MetS is not fully elucidated, it is likely that there is an interaction between metabolic, genetic, and environmental factors [5]
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