The cortisol response to normal and nocturnal awakening

Free cortisol as measured in saliva increased markedly following awakening. This study investigated, with 11 adults (mean age 21.7 yrs) whether the awakening cortisol response can be generated in the middle of nocturnal sleep. In a within subject design, salivary cortisol response was measured under three different awakening conditions: at normal morning awakening time; awakening 4 hrs prior to normal awakening time; and awakening the following morning after interrupted sleep. The overall main effect was a linear increase in free cortisol following awakening with no significant interaction with awakening condition. Cortisol levels differed by awakening condition. The two morning awakening conditions were comparable but values were lower for night awakening. It is concluded from the data that there is a clear free cortisol response to awakening for both nocturnal and morning awakening although the absolute levels produced are lower for nocturnal awakening when basal cortisol is low. Nocturnal interruption of sleep did not affect the subsequent morning response

A feeling of interest was associated with a transient increase in salivary immunoglobulin a secretion in students attending a lecture

Relations between feelings and salivary IgA secretion were assessed in co-medical students attending a lecture

The demand control model and circadian saliva cortisol variations in a Swedish population based sample (The PART study)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Previous studies of the relationship between job strain and blood or saliva cortisol levels have been small and based on selected occupational groups. Our aim was to examine the association between job strain and saliva cortisol levels in a population-based study in which a number of potential confounders could be adjusted for.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The material derives from a population-based study in Stockholm on mental health and its potential determinants. Two data collections were performed three years apart with more than 8500 subjects responding to a questionnaire in both waves. In this paper our analyses are based on 529 individuals who held a job, participated in both waves as well as in an interview linked to the second wave. They gave saliva samples at awakening, half an hour later, at lunchtime and before going to bed on a weekday in close connection with the interview. Job control and job demands were assessed from the questionnaire in the second wave. Mixed models were used to analyse the association between the demand control model and saliva cortisol.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Women in low strain jobs (high control and low demands) had significantly lower cortisol levels half an hour after awakening than women in high strain (low control and high demands), active (high control and high demands) or passive jobs (low control and low demands). There were no significant differences between the groups during other parts of the day and furthermore there was no difference between the job strain, active and passive groups. For men, no differences were found between demand control groups.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This population-based study, on a relatively large sample, weakly support the hypothesis that the demand control model is associated with saliva cortisol concentrations.</p