PNI Biomarkers and Health Outcomes in College Women

Shih-Yu Lee,Yu Chen,Yong Wang,Mugdha Vasireddi,Julia Hilliard

doi:10.3390/healthcare2020207

Abstract

Sleep disturbance has been found to trigger a stress response with a subsequent activation of the psychoneuroimmunological (PNI) pathway associated with adverse health outcomes. This study aimed to assess the association among selected PNI biomarkers, sleep disturbances, and adverse health outcomes (depressive symptoms, physical symptoms). A stratified, quota sample (14 poor sleepers and 15 good sleepers) was drawn from a pool of healthy college women from a larger scale of study. The participants reported their sleep, stress, depressive, and physical symptoms. Wrist actigraphy was used to collect objective sleep data, and the Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay was used to assess PNI biomarkers. Poor sleep quality, higher stress perception, elevated serum serotonin, and lower serum interleukin-10 explained 75.3% of the variances for the depressive symptoms. Poor sleep quality along with delayed peak activity rhythms accounted 31.4% of the physical symptoms. High serotonin and tumor necrosis factor-α were the significant predictors for poor sleep efficiency, and serotonin was the single significant predictor for poor daytime functioning. Stress and sleep disturbances negatively impact the health of college women and should be as part of regular check-ups on campus. PNI effects on health outcomes should be further explored. Educational materials in the areas of sleep hygiene, health impacts from sleep disturbances, and strategies to maintain synchronized circadian rhythms should be mandatorily included in the college curriculum.

Highlights

Sleep disturbances are more prevalent among American females than males, according to the 2007Sleep in America Poll survey that found about half of the women in the United States experienced sleep problems nightly [1]
On the other hand, compared to the good sleepers, C-reactive protein (CRP) and melatonin levels were lower in the poor sleepers, though there were no statistically significant differences
This study examined to what degree depressive symptoms and physical symptoms were explained by the selected personal characteristics, perceived stress, sleep disturbances, and PNI markers in a group of college women

Summary

Introduction

Sleep disturbances are more prevalent among American females than males, according to the 2007Sleep in America Poll survey that found about half of the women in the United States experienced sleep problems nightly [1]. Sleep disturbances are more prevalent among American females than males, according to the 2007. Sleep disturbances have been found to trigger a stress response with subsequent activation of the psychoneuroimmunological (PNI) pathway that has an impact on fatigue, depression, and adverse health outcomes [2,3]. Sleep disturbances are prevalent in the U.S.; many Americans do not take actions that address their sleep problems [5]. There is emerging evidence of the relationships between sleep disturbances and adverse health outcomes [10], most of the findings have been derived from studies with a specific disease-based population or with healthy human beings but under an artificial context, such as monitoring sleep in the sleep lab. A study in a natural context and over an extended period of time may lead to a better understanding of the pathway between sleep disturbances and health outcomes

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Discussion

Conclusion