Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access

Abstract

Personality and Levels of Cholesterol and Glucose

Henrique Pereira, Cândida Tomaz, José Cavaco and Paulo Tavares-Ratado

This research aims to investigate the relationship between personality traits according to the Big-Five model and the levels of cholesterol and glucose. A convenience sample of 52 individuals participated in this study (mean age was 25 years old; SD=7,8 years of age); 59,6% were women (40,4% were men). The Neo Reviewed Personality Inventory (Portuguese version) was used to measure personality according to the Big-Five Personality Model: Openness (O), Conscientiousness (C), Extraversion (E), Agreeableness (A), and Neuroticism (N). Regarding the serum determinations, the following parameters were quantified: Total Cholesterol, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), Triglycerides and Glucose. Results show that there is a negative correlation between Extroversion and total levels of cholesterol, as well as LDL; a negative correlation between Neuroticism and LDL and Glucose; and, finally a positive correlation between Conscientiousness and glucose levels. This study is a contribution for further research, and our aim is to develop other topics of investigation, expanding it into the psychoneuroimmunological implications present in the mechanisms that mediate the relation between psychological and physical variables, namely between the personality and levels of cholesterol and glucose.