There are very few reliable biomakers of both acute and chronic stress in the organism. Prolactin and cortisol are two such markers, as well as DHEA-S. However, they tend to be more accurate for acute stress reactions and not so much for chronic stress load on the organism.
This older study demonstrates that the taurine/glycine ratio can be used as both acute and chronic stress biomarker. Given that blood levels of taurine and glycine can easily be determines with a cheap lab test, this is another tool people can use to determine their overall health status.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3814843
"...Enhanced taurine - glycine ratios are not merely a laboratory artifact. Investigations by Jeffries (1972) show this effect to be present in field populations...From his investigations, Jeffries concludes that taurine - glycine ratios above 3 are indicative of chronic stress, and values above 5 indicate acute stress. More inten- sive investigations with field populations will highlight the limits as well as the merits of this biochemical stress index. Constant comparsions of the taurine - glycine ratio between un- stressed populations (serving as controls) and possibly endangered ones could be very useful as an early warning system tool. Extensive diagnostic investigations then could be reduced to a reasonable and justifiable degree."
This older study demonstrates that the taurine/glycine ratio can be used as both acute and chronic stress biomarker. Given that blood levels of taurine and glycine can easily be determines with a cheap lab test, this is another tool people can use to determine their overall health status.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3814843
"...Enhanced taurine - glycine ratios are not merely a laboratory artifact. Investigations by Jeffries (1972) show this effect to be present in field populations...From his investigations, Jeffries concludes that taurine - glycine ratios above 3 are indicative of chronic stress, and values above 5 indicate acute stress. More inten- sive investigations with field populations will highlight the limits as well as the merits of this biochemical stress index. Constant comparsions of the taurine - glycine ratio between un- stressed populations (serving as controls) and possibly endangered ones could be very useful as an early warning system tool. Extensive diagnostic investigations then could be reduced to a reasonable and justifiable degree."