Journal
PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
Volume 33, Issue 2, Pages 143-151Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2007.10.013
Keywords
human; saliva; cortisot-awakening response; diurnal profile; stress; steep; obesity
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Funding
- Medical Research Council Funding Source: Medline
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The use of saliva samples is a practical and feasible method to explore basal diurnal cortisol profiles in free-living research. This study explores a number of psychological and physiological characteristics in relation to the observed pattern of salivary cortisol activity over a 12-h period with particular emphasis on steep. Basal diurnal cortisol profiles were examined in a sample of 147 volunteers (mean age 46.21 +/- 7.18 years). Profiles were constructed for each volunteer and explored in terms of the area under the curve (AUC) of the cortisol-awakening response with samples obtained immediately upon waking (0, 15, 30 and 45 min post waking) and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 h post waking to assess diurnal decline. Diurnal mean of cortisol was based on the mean of cortisol at time points 3, 6, 9 and 12 h post waking. Psychological measures of perceived stress and steep were collected with concurrent biological assessment of fasting plasma glucose, insulin, blood Lipids and inflammatory markers. Blunted cortisol profiles, characterised by a reduced AUC, were observed in the majority (78%) of a middle-aged sample and were associated with significantly poorer steep quality and significantly greater waist-hip ratio (WHR). Blunted cortisol profiles were further associated with a tendency to exhibit a less favourable metabolic profile. These findings suggest that reduced cortisol secretion post waking may serve as an additional marker of psychological and biological vulnerability to adverse health outcomes in middle-aged adults. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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