Date of Completion
Spring 5-10-2025
Thesis Advisor(s)
Lauren Corso; Bruce Blanchard
Honors Major
Allied Health Sciences
Disciplines
Biochemical Phenomena, Metabolism, and Nutrition | Biological Phenomena, Cell Phenomena, and Immunity | Circulatory and Respiratory Physiology | Hematology | Medical Biochemistry | Medical Nutrition | Physiological Processes
Abstract
Background. Young adulthood is a period when cardiometabolic risk factors begin to emerge. Developing cardiometabolic risk early can increase the risk and severity of chronic illness across the lifespan. Despite this, young adults are often understudied particularly as it relates to major cardiometabolic risk factors such as blood pressure (BP) and risk of hypertension. Hypertension is a public health crisis and early indicators of hypertension risk should be more thoroughly researched. Therefore, the purpose of the presented thesis is to examine BP in young adults and two potential pathways by which risk may emerge in young adults; inflammation (C-Reactive Protein [CRP]) and oxidative stress (Uric acid [UA]). Moreover, the presented thesis will explore alcohol consumption as a key behavior in young adulthood that may contribute to changes in BP in this population. Methods. Two datasets were analyzed, with two potential mediators in the relationship between alcohol consumption and BP outcomes. The first analysis consists of uric acid analysis of a female-only population aged 18-25. The secondary dataset consists of CRP analysis of participants with major depressive disorder as well as aged-matched controls (18-25) without preexisting health conditions. The main health behavior of interest is alcohol consumption, assessed via multiple questionnaires of college-aged young adults. Biomarkers were assessed by serum blood samples and proper laboratory procedures with a spectrophotometric enzyme assay for uric acid. Results. The results showed potential of CRP as a strong predictor of BP outcomes, but this relationship was not significantly related to alcohol consumption behavior. Alcohol consumption, in the form of binge-drinking related behavior, was a strong indicator of uric acid levels although not significantly related to BP outcomes. Conclusions. Results indicate a compelling relationship between CRP, BP, UA, and alcohol consumption. This could inform future preventative efforts in the young adult population that should be clarified in future studies in larger study designs.
Recommended Citation
Godfrey, Alison M., "Relationships Between Health Behaviors and Markers of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation on Blood Pressure" (2025). Honors Scholar Theses. 1127.
https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/srhonors_theses/1127
Included in
Biochemical Phenomena, Metabolism, and Nutrition Commons, Biological Phenomena, Cell Phenomena, and Immunity Commons, Circulatory and Respiratory Physiology Commons, Hematology Commons, Medical Biochemistry Commons, Medical Nutrition Commons, Physiological Processes Commons
