| Abstract [eng] |
Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone, commonly used as a stress biomarker in medical research. It is found in all bodily fluids, including saliva. Cortisol measurement in saliva is a stress free, ethically and financially acceptable way of evaluating physiological response to acute stress. Purpose of this study was to evaluate whether psychosocial stress has any impact on variation of cortisol concentration in saliva. Methods. Total of 182 men of age 25 – 54 years were evaluated in this study. One saliva sample was taken after awakening and three saliva samples were taken during acute laboratory stress test: pre-test, post-test and after recovery period. During acute stress test arterial blood pressure and heart rate was measured repeatedly. HPLC and ELISA methods were used for determination of cortisol concentration in saliva samples. Psychosocial stress of participants was evaluated by psychosocial questionnaire from LiVicordia study. Results. Baseline cortisol concentration mean in healthy men was 12,16 (±14,06) ng/ml. We found positive association of cortisol concentration and age. No association was found within groups of body mass index and smoking habits. When compared to results of psychosocial questionnaire, difference was found in job strain subgroups of younger age (25 – 39 years). Mean baseline cortisol concentration was 16,09 (±21,72) ng/ml in „Active job“ subgroup and was higher than 10,14 (±5,91) ng/ml in „Passive job“ subgroup, 7,80 (±3,92) ng/ml in „High strain“ subgroup and 10,31 (±9,43) ng/ml in „Low strain“ subgroup. No other associations of baseline cortisol and psychosocial factors were found. During acute stress test mean cortisol concentration was different between post-stress test and recovery period samples (30,67 (±41,27) and 22,84 (±26,19) ng/ml, respectively) of older men. Only heart rate showed dynamics during acute stress test and a significant difference was found in pre-test and after recovery period blood pressure measurements. Conclusion. Baseline cortisol concentration is associated with age. Job strain is a psychosocial factor which has an impact on baseline cortisol levels. Acute stress cortisol response was found only in older men and there was no dynamics in younger age group. Cardiovascular response during acute stress is different according to baseline cortisol level. |
