C-Reactive Protein and TGF-α Predict Psychological Distress at Two Years of Follow-Up in Healthy Adolescent Boys: The Fit Futures Study

Jonas Linkas; Luai Awad Ahmed; Gabor Csifcsak; Nina Emaus; Anne-Sofie Furberg; Guri Grimnes; Gunn Pettersen; Kamilla Rognmo; Tore Christoffersen

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.823420

C-Reactive Protein and TGF-α Predict Psychological Distress at Two Years of Follow-Up in Healthy Adolescent Boys: The Fit Futures Study

Front Psychol. 2022 Mar 11:13:823420. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.823420. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Jonas Linkas¹, Luai Awad Ahmed², Gabor Csifcsak³, Nina Emaus⁴, Anne-Sofie Furberg⁵, Guri Grimnes^{6

7}, Gunn Pettersen⁴, Kamilla Rognmo³, Tore Christoffersen^{4

8

9}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health and Care Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Narvik, Norway.
² Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
³ Department of Psychology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
⁴ Department of Health and Care Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
⁵ Faculty of Health and Care Sciences, Molde University College, Molde, Norway.
⁶ Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
⁷ Institute of Clinical Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
⁸ School of Sport Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Alta, Norway.
⁹ Department of Research and Development, Finnmark Hospital Trust, Alta, Norway.

Abstract

Objective: The scarcity of research on associations between inflammatory markers and symptoms of depression and anxiety during adolescence has yielded inconsistent results. Further, not all studies have controlled for potential confounders. We explored the associations between baseline inflammatory markers and psychological distress including moderators at follow-up in a Norwegian adolescent population sample.

Methods: Data was derived from 373 girls and 294 boys aged 15-18 years at baseline, in the Fit Futures Study, a large-scale 2-year follow-up study on adolescent health. Baseline data was gathered from 2010 to 2011 and follow-up data from 2012 to 2013. Psychological distress was measured with Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-10). Serum levels of the following inflammatory markers were measured: C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α), Tumor necrosis factor alpha variant 1 (TRANCE), and variant 2 (TWEAK). Independent associations between baseline inflammatory markers and HSCL-10 at follow-up were explored by linear regressions, in sex-stratified analyses.

Results: In girls, analyses showed positive associations between all inflammatory markers and HSCL-10, except for TRANCE. However, all associations were non-significant in crude as well as in adjusted analyses. In boys, CRP (p = 0.03) and TGF-α (p < 0.01) showed significant associations with HSCL-10, that remained significant after adjustment. Additionally, moderators were found. In boys, CRP was associated with HSCL-10 in those with high body fat and those being physical inactive, and the association between TWEAK and HSCL-10 was dependent upon sleep duration.

Conclusion: There were significant prospective associations between CRP, TFG-α, and HSCL-10 in boys aged 15-18 years at baseline.

Keywords: adolescence; anxiety symptoms; depressive symptoms; inflammatory markers; psychological distress.