Hostility-related differences in the associations between stress-induced physiological reactivity and lipid concentrations in young healthy women

We examined the relations of fasting lipid levels to stress-induced neuroendocrine and cardiovascular responses as a function of hostility in 36 healthy young women. Participants were women who scored above 17 (n = 23) or below 12 (n = 13) on the Cook-Medley Hostility (Ho) Inventory. Lipids were determined following an overnight fast. Individuals participated in a solvable anagram task, which evoked significant physiological responses in all participants. The Ho group by total serum cholesterol (TSC) and the Ho group by low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol interactions significantly predicted heart rate (HR) and norepinephrine (Ne) responses. For high Ho women, elevations in TSC and LDL cholesterol were associated with smaller HR responses and larger Ne responses. In contrast, for low Ho women, elevations in TSC and LDL cholesterol were associated with larger HR responses and smaller Ne responses. Results also indicated a significant Ho group by TSC to high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio interaction for cortisol. For high Ho women, larger cortisol responses were associated with a greater TSC to HDL cholesterol ratio. For low Ho women, larger cortisol responses were associated with a smaller TSC to HDL cholesterol ratio. Lastly, higher TSC and LDL cholesterol levels were significantly associated with larger epinephrine responses. The findings suggest that stress-induced physiological responses are differentially associated with fasting lipids as a function of hostility in healthy young women.