Impact of wartime stress factors on the metabolic status of the civilian population

Abstract

Materials and methods. As part of the longitudinal study, 29 civilians were examined; all of them remained in their place of residence during the war, were not directly in the combat areas and did not receive physical damage. Body composition was determined by the method of bioelectrical impedance using Composition Monitor BF511, Omron, including body fat percentage (FAT, %), skeletal muscle percentage (MUS, %), visceral fat level (VIS, %). Hematological and biochemical investigations were conducted according to the standard methods. The enzyme immunoassay with appropriate sets of reagents was used to determine serum levels of insulin, C­reactive protein, sirtuin­1 (SIRT1), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF­α), and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). The saliva cortisol levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay as well. Molecular genetic studies included determination of the relative length of telomeres of blood leukocytes. Results. The mean age of the examined subjects was 53.05 ± 12.06 years, women made up 55.2 % (n = 16). The average time between the prewar visit and the wartime visit was 12.1 ± 2.4 months. When assessing the anthropometric status of the increase in the body mass index, waist circumference and hips: (26.82 ± 3.58 vs 29.67 ± 3.92 kg/m2, p = 0.0184; 84.93 ± 15.58 vs 100.03 ± 12.57 cm, p = 0.0021; 98.57 ± 6.69 vs 106.75 ± 6.73 cm, p = 0.0004), respectively. The most significant changes occurred in the VIS indicator (8.77 ± 3.44 vs 12.88 ± 4.57, p = 0.0003). The significant changes of other parameters were not observed during the study. Correlation analysis of stress indicators (cortisol, DHEA and their ratio) with clinical anthropometric and metabolic indicators, demonstrated their probable association with body composition (cortisol/DHEA & MUS, cortisol/DHEA & FAT), lipid metabolism disorder (cortisol/DHEA & total cholesterol, cortisol/DHEA & low­density lipoprotein cholesterol) and the number of leukocytes (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Among the civilian population, persons who remained in their place of residence during the war showed negative changes in anthropometric status compared to the pre­war period. The impact of a psychotraumatic factor on the anthropometric status, body composition and lipid metabolism in persons who did not change their place of residence during the war is confirmed by the highly probable relationship of the stress indicator (cortisol/DHEA ratio) with the corresponding indicators. Among the civilian population, in persons who did not change their place of residence during the war, no reliable changes in the parameters related to aging (telomeres, SIRT1) compared to the pre­war period were demonstrated.