Impact of age, sex and body mass index on cortisol secretion in 143 healthy adults

Abstract

ContextStudies on 24-h cortisol secretion are rare. The impact of sex, age and adiposity on cortisol levels, often restricted to one or a few samples, are well recognized, but conflicting.ObjectiveTo investigate cortisol dynamics in 143 healthy men and women, spanning 7 decades and with a 2-fold body mass index (BMI) range with different analytic tools.SettingClinical Research Unit.DesignCortisol concentrations in 10-min samples collected for 24 h. Outcomes were mean levels, deconvolution parameters, approximate entropy (ApEn, regularity statistic) and 24-h rhythms.ResultsTotal 24-h cortisol secretion rates estimated by deconvolution analysis were sex, age and BMI independent. Mean 24-h cortisol concentrations were lower in premenopausal women than those in men of comparable age (176 ± 8.2 vs 217 ± 9.4 nmol/L, P = 0.02), but not in subjects older than 50 years. This was due to lower daytime levels in women, albeit similar in the quiescent overnight period. Aging increased mean cortisol by 10 nmol/L per decade during the quiescent secretory phase and advanced the acrophase of the diurnal rhythm by 24 min/decade. However, total 24-h cortisol secretion rates estimated by deconvolution analysis were sex, age and BMI independent. ApEn of 24-h profiles was higher (more random) in premenopausal women than those in men (1.048 ± 0.025 vs 0.933 ± 0.023, P = 0.001), but not in subjects older than 50 years. ApEn peaked during the daytime.ConclusionSex and age jointly determine the 24-h cortisol secretory profile. Sex effects are largely restricted to age <50 years, whereas age effects elevate concentrations in the late evening and early night and advance the timing of the peak diurnal rhythm.

Validated criteria for the interpretation of a single measurement of serum cortisol in the investigation of suspected adrenal insufficiency

“…The requirement for a slightly lower cut‐off, and the reduced specificity of the test in the afternoon reflect the diurnal variation in serum cortisol. This variation is slightly smaller than reported in other studies, perhaps reflecting a degree of stress in patients attending outpatient clinics compared with studies in healthy volunteers. Despite the reduction in specificity with afternoon testing, use of the criteria would still avoid the requirement for dynamic testing in a significant proportion of patients when tested in the afternoon.…”

Activation of Adrenal Steroidogenesis and an Improvement of Mood Balance in Postmenopausal Females after Spa Treatment Based on Physical Activity

“…al. [91], allow speculation about a restoration of the cortisol diurnal profile towards the situation typical for the younger subjects i.e., to the lowering of cortisol levels in the night but their increase around the acrophase early in the morning. Therefore, the increase of morning cortisol levels may not stand for the shift of the whole diurnal profile to the higher values.…”

“…In contrast to adrenal androgens and sex steroids declining during aging, the data concerning mean cortisol concentrations are contradictory [90]. Nevertheless, numerous studies report that in seniors, cortisol shows a flattened circadian profile, with elevation at night [89] and attenuation of earlier morning level peaks [89][90][91]. The relationships between the cortisol secretion on one side and age, sex and body mass index on the other side was thoroughly evaluated in the recent study of Roelfsema et al in 143 healthy adults spanning 7 decades and with a 2-fold body mass index (BMI) range [91].…”

“…Finally, it should be pointed out that this study did not compare the whole diurnal profile in any stage of the treatment. The serum samples from our patients were collected early in the morning (at 7 a.m.) around the acrophase of the cortisol diurnal profile when the aging subjects exhibit lower cortisol levels than the younger ones [91]. Nevertheless, the remaining hormonal and mood changes indicating the restoration of adrenal activity after the treatment and the recent data of Roelfsema et.…”

Associação da expressão circadiana do cortisol de enfermeiros segundo trabalho em turnos, estresse ocupacional e fadiga

“…Entretanto, levando-se em consideração o papel da aderência ao protocolo de coleta sobre a CAR e a fim de se obter resultados fidedignos, as análises de cortisol salivar foram realizadas apenas nos indivíduos respondentes, ou seja, naqueles que apresentaram diferença maior que 2,5 nmol/L nas concentrações de cortisol entre a primeira e segunda amostras ao acordar (WUST et al, 2000). Tal Estudos envolvendo a atividade secretória do cortisol de acordo com o sexo têm demonstrado resultados contraditórios em virtude da variabilidade da composição demográfica dos sujeitos, do tipo de estressor e dos protocolos de coleta (GOEL et al, 2014;ROELFSEMA et al, 2017). Entretanto, a demonstração de níveis mais elevados de cortisol ao acordar e durante o turno de trabalho em homens sugere maior reatividade do eixo HHA em resposta ao estresse ocupacional (SCHLOTZ et al, 2004).…”