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Relationship Between Psychological Stress Scores and Urinary 5-HT Levels Over Time Under Psychological Stress
Tadayuki Iida1, Yasuhiro Ito2, Susumu Murayama3
1Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health and Welfare, Prefectural University of Hiroshima, Japan.
Psychological stress in healthy women is linked to urinary 5-hydroxytryptamine (u-5-HT) levels. This study found correlations between stress scores and u-5-HT, highlighting the gut-microbiota-brain axis connection.
Area of Science:
- Neurogastroenterology
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Gut-microbiota-brain axis research
Background:
- The gut-microbiota-brain axis is a key area for understanding psychological stress.
- Previous studies show interventions improve gut health and stress, but the direct link between stress and urinary 5-hydroxytryptamine (u-5-HT) in healthy individuals over time is unclear.
- Urinary 5-hydroxytryptamine (u-5-HT) is produced by intestinal enterochromaffin cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between subjective psychological stress (depression and anxiety) and urinary 5-hydroxytryptamine (u-5-HT) levels over time.
- To examine stress biomarkers in healthy women under acute psychological stress.
Main Methods:
- Assessed psychological stress using Zung's Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).
- Measured urinary 5-hydroxytryptamine (u-5-HT) levels in 16 female medical students before and after an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
- Utilized Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient to analyze the relationship between u-5-HT, SDS, and STAI scores.
Main Results:
- A significant correlation was found between u-5-HT levels and psychological stress scores on the day before the OSCE.
- Specifically, u-5-HT correlated with depression (SDS: r=.524, P=.037) and state anxiety (STAI: r=-.718, P=.002).
Conclusions:
- Subjective psychological stress scores are correlated with urinary 5-hydroxytryptamine (u-5-HT) levels in healthy women.
- This finding supports the role of the gut-microbiota-brain axis in the physiological response to psychological stress.
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