title: Lipid and lipoprotein responses to episodic occupational and academic stress.
abstract: We examined the effects of psychological stress on plasma lipid, lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein levels in three related studies. In the first study, tax accountants (N = 20) and a comparable control group (N = 20) were assessed during and after the tax season. In the second and third studies, first-year medical students (N = 24 and N = 16) were assessed at midsemester and immediately before the examinations. Across studies, the stressors induced significant psychological distress. There were no corresponding changes in lipid and lipoprotein levels. Mean stress-induced change in total cholesterol level was -0.04 mmol/L (-1.6 mg/dL) (95% confidence interval, -0.23 to 0.16 mmol/L [-9 to 6 mg/dL]) for the accountants and 0 mmol/L (0 mg/dL) (95% confidence interval, -0.16 to 0.21 mmol/L [-6 to 8 mg/dL]) and 0.10 mmol/L (4 mg/dL) (95% confidence interval, -0.18 to 0.39 mmol/L [-7 to 15 mg/dL]) for medical students in the second and third studies, respectively. In all studies, change in total cholesterol level correlated with change in total serum protein levels (r = .42 to .60). These results suggest that commonly occurring stressful situations do not produce significant changes in plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels.
authors.affiliation: Division of Behavioral Medicine, Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI 02906.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Niaura
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Herbert
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Saritelli
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Follick
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gorkin
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Ahern
mesh_terms: D000066:Accounting; D000328:Adult; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D004032:Diet; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009790:Occupations; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D002784:Cholesterol