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Is Self-Rated Health Associated with Blood Immune Markers in Healthy Individuals?

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Abstract

Background

Although self-rated health (SRH) has been established as a robust predictor of morbidity and mortality, the immunological mechanisms underpinning this relationship are poorly understood.

Purpose

This study examined the association of SRH with humoral and cellular immune markers in healthy individuals who reported no physical illnesses.

Method

A total of 116 healthy Japanese white-collar employees (79 women and 37 men) at a pharmaceutical company, aged 23–62 (mean 32) years, underwent a blood draw for the measurement of circulating immune (T, B, and natural killer) cells, inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α), and plasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) and completed a health survey including SRH. The question regarding SRH ranged from “very good” (coded 1) to “very poor” (coded 5). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was carried out to calculate the relationship between SRH and immune markers.

Results

In this sample, poor SRH was positively correlated with B (CD19+) cell numbers (β = 0.260, p < 0.05) and IgG levels (β = 0.335, p < 0.01) even after adjusting for depressive symptoms, age, education, marital status, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, body mass index, sex, and sex × SRH interaction. The interaction between SRH and sex on the immune markers was not significant.

Conclusion

Although the connection between SRH and immune markers was not strong in this context, the results suggest that poor SRH may be associated with reduced humoral immune system capacity to respond to new/latent challenges. The results provide some support for the immunological basis of SRH in healthier individuals.

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Disclaimer

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, USA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Applied Research and Technology, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway, MS-C24, Cincinnati, OH, 45226, USA

    Akinori Nakata & Naomi G. Swanson

  2. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Kawasaki, Japan

    Masaya Takahashi

  3. Department of Psychology, School of Education, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan

    Yasumasa Otsuka

Authors
  1. Akinori Nakata
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  2. Masaya Takahashi
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  3. Yasumasa Otsuka
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  4. Naomi G. Swanson
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Correspondence to Akinori Nakata.

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Nakata, A., Takahashi, M., Otsuka, Y. et al. Is Self-Rated Health Associated with Blood Immune Markers in Healthy Individuals?. Int.J. Behav. Med. 17, 234–242 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-010-9102-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-010-9102-0

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