Abstract:We report the relationship between patterns of post-awakening salivary melatonin and cortisol secretion in healthy participants (n=51; mean age 21.6 ± 5.0 years). Saliva samples were collected within the domestic setting, at 0, 15, 30 and 45 min post-awakening on 2 consecutive typical weekdays. Analyses were undertaken on data with electronically verified sample timing accuracy (< 5 min delay between awakening and the start of saliva sampling).Melatonin secretion declined linearly by an average of 29% within the first 45 minutes postawakening. In contrast there was a marked 112% surge in cortisol, characteristic of the cortisol awakening response. No day-differences in melatonin or cortisol secretion were observed but melatonin concentrations were lower with later awakening. Despite contrasting post-awakening changes in these hormones there was a lack of relationship between overall levels or patterns of melatonin and cortisol during this period.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.