title: Biological indicators of sub-optimal health status.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate biological indicators of sub-optimal health status and provide means of objective assessment of sub-optimal health status.
  
  
  METHODS
  We set the unified standards for diagnosing a SHS. We tested various laboratory indicators in 407 cases that we selected randomly from 2807 subjects and collected 15 mL of fasting venous blood from each case. We measured serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations, serum beta endorphins (beta-EP), cortisol (C), testosterone (T), plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and serum T lymphocyte subsets CD3+ and CD4+.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean serum testosterone concentrations and their ratio to cortisol (C) concentrations were significantly higher in the healthy group than in those with sub-optimal health status (P < 0.01). Mean serum CD3+ concentrations were significantly higher in those with sub-optimal health status than in the healthy group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreased serum testosterone/cortisol ratio may be an objective indication of sub-optimal health status. Changes in neuroendocrine and immunological indicators may explain some of the symptoms, including malaise and poor work performance, attributable to persistent or relapsing fatigue in subjects with sub-optimal health status.
authors.forename: Limin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jiaxu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiaoling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Danhui
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Huating
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Yueyun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D013739:Testosterone; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D006854:Hydrocortisone