The Association between Affect and Biomarkers of Stress and Inflammation in Healthy Seventh-Day Adventists

To evaluate the association between positive and negative affective states with stress biomarkers, biomarkers of inflammation and blood pressure in a population of healthy Seventh-day Adventists.

In a cross-sectional study, biomarkers were regressed on positive and negative affect and control variables among reportedly healthy 133 females and 100 males (35% Black and 65% White) who provided blood and urine samples following completion of a questionnaire and measurement of anthropometrics and vital signs.

Data were extracted from the Biological Manifestations of Religion Study, an NIA-funded study conducted in members of the entity who lived within driving distance of two clinic sites.

The stress biomarkers, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, were measured in 12-hour overnight urine samples analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Urinary cortisol was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and normalized for urinary output (reported in µg/g creatinine). Serum DHEA-S (reported in µg/ml) was measured by ELISA. Inflammatory markers included CRP (ng/ml), IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α, all analyzed in serum by ELISA, and the data expressed in pg/ml.

Multiple linear regression analyses showed after controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), education, socioeconomic status, exercise, and use of blood pressure medication, that negative affect was associated with higher levels of epinephrine (β = .143; P = .030). Positive affect was not associated with the biomarkers.

While negative affect was associated with a biomarker of sympathetic stimulation, positive affect was not protective against such stimulation.