Strategies for salivary cortisol collection and analysis in research with children

Hanrahan, Kirsten; McCarthy, Ann Marie; Kleiber, Charmaine; Lutgendorf, Susan K.; Tsalikian, Eva

doi:10.1016/j.apnr.2006.02.001

Cited by 176 publications

(157 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Most studies rely on self-reported time of awakening; therefore, this study design permitted an ecologically valid test of sampling compliance in typical research practice. It will also be important for future studies to consider children's compliance with recommended instructions for collecting saliva (e.g., refrain from eating, drinking, brushing teeth; Hanrahan et al, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sampling compliance for cortisol upon awakening in children and adolescents

Rotenberg

McGrath

2014

Psychoneuroendocrinology

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SummaryCompliance with awakening salivary sampling is important for precise measurement of the diurnal cortisol profile. During childhood and adolescence, developmental factors influence sampling upon awakening (awake 0 ) due to school routine, sleep/wake patterns, and age related cortisol changes. In the present study, children and adolescents' sampling compliance of awakening cortisol was evaluated using accelerometry. Children and adolescents (N = 201; 45.3% female; 8-18 years; M age = 12.68 years, SD = 2.03) participating in the Healthy Heart Project collected saliva samples, wore a tri-axle accelerometer, and completed demographic questionnaires. Intraclass correlations derived to examine awake 0 sampling compliance indicated children and adolescents were highly compliant (ICC = .98). In children, a delay in awake 0 sampling was associated with a steeper diurnal slope (β = −.23, p = .037) and greater awake 0 cortisol (β = .24, p = .024); this was not observed in adolescents. In summary, children and adolescents are compliant with awakening salivary sampling. Sampling delay, particularly in children, and time of awakening influenced measures of the diurnal cortisol profile. These findings inform future studies assessing the diurnal cortisol profile in children and adolescents.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sampling compliance for cortisol upon awakening in children and adolescents

Rotenberg

McGrath

2014

Psychoneuroendocrinology

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“…Youth were instructed to place the cotton swab under their tongue for at least 30 s. When saturated, it was placed back in the Salivette tube and refrigerated until returned at the second visit. Participants were instructed not to eat or brush their teeth 10 min before taking a sample, consistent with the instructions by Hanrahan et al (2006). Youth recorded the date and time each sample was taken in a daily log, which was initialed by parents or teachers as a marker of compliance.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stability of the diurnal cortisol profile in children and adolescents

Rotenberg

McGrath

Roy-Gagnon

et al. 2012

Psychoneuroendocrinology

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SummaryThe diurnal cortisol profile has been implicated in multiple physical and mental health conditions in children and adolescents; however, current knowledge regarding the stability of the diurnal cortisol profile is largely based on adults. Developmental changes throughout childhood and adolescence warrant examination of the stability of the diurnal cortisol profile during this stage in the lifecourse. The aim of the present study was to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the diurnal cortisol profile in children and adolescents. Participants (N = 233; M = 12.40, SD = 1.83; 44.2% girls) in the Healthy Heart Project collected saliva samples, completed demographic questionnaires, and recorded bed and waking time. Intra-class correlations were calculated to evaluate the stability of aggregate and single sample measures of the diurnal cortisol profile. Total cortisol concentration (AUC TG , AUC AG ) and maximum sample were the most stable cortisol measures (ICC avg = 0.54). Dynamic measures (AUC I , slope; ICC avg = 0.22) and other single sample measures (awake, lunch, dinner, bedtime, morning random, day random; ICC avg = 0.28) were less stable. Of the developmentally relevant covariates tested, sleep duration, adrenarche, and time of awakening were most associated with cortisol values. Altogether, the diurnal cortisol profile yielded moderate to high stability in children and adolescents. These findings can inform methodological decisions regarding cortisol sampling protocols for children and adolescents. KeywordsCortisol; Stability; Children; Adolescents; HPA axis; Methodology Cortisol, the end product of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, is released in a circadian fashion and in response to stress. The circadian rhythm of cortisol, or the diurnal cortisol profile, has been implicated in multiple physical and mental health conditions in children and adolescents, including asthma (Wolf et al., 2008;Dreger et al., 2010), bipolar disorder (Ellenbogen et al., 2006), major depression (Van den Bergh and Van Calster, 2009;Adam et al., 2010), and sleep disturbances (El-Sheikh et al., 2008), among others. However, * Corresponding author. jennifer.mcgrath@concordia.ca (J.J. McGrath). Conflict of interest statementAll authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.Psychoneuroendocrinology. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2018 January 09.Published in final edited form as: Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2012 December ; 37(12): 1981-1989. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.014. CIHR Author ManuscriptCIHR Author Manuscript CIHR Author Manuscript the measurement of cortisol varies widely, and few studies have considered the stability of the diurnal cortisol profile in children and adolescents.The diurnal cortisol profile is characterized by cortisol levels that peak roughly 30 min after awakening (morning acrophase) and gradually decline throughout the day, reaching nadir at bedtime (Fries et al., 2009). The diurnal cortisol profile is described using aggregate measures such as: the awakening response, diurna...

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“…53 Researchers have developed methods for collecting salivary cortisol in children, and recent laboratory techniques have made it possible to detect very small concentrations of cortisol in plasma and saliva. 51 Salivary and serum cortisol in children and adolescents have been shown to correlate strongly (r=0.86 to 0.97). 54,55 Salivary cortisol thus enables the study of hypothalamus-pituitaryadrenal (HPA) axis function in epidemiological cohorts.…”

Section: Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis: Salivary Cortisolmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…51 In addition, salivary cortisol levels reflect the biologically active (unbound) fraction of cortisol. 52 Cortisol is lipid-soluble, enabling the molecule to diffuse rapidly from the circulation through the acinar cells of the salivary glands into the saliva, without any influence of salivary flow rate.…”

Section: Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis: Salivary Cortisolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Salivary Biomarkers in Children: Exercise, Physical Activity and Obesity Studies

Konkol¹,

McKune²

2016

Sport Exerc Med Open J

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Citation Literature ReviewPage 15 ABSTRACTWorldwide, overweight/obesity and associated chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes (T2D), have reached epidemic proportions. The current statistics show that overweight/obesity and chronic disease is prevalent amongst adults and children in South Africa. The aim of the review is to discuss current research investigating how overweight/obesity and inactivity impact on salivary biomarkers of immune and sympathetic activation in children and how these may change with weight-loss and increased activity. There is limited research regarding the effect that these factors have on salivary biomarkers of health status, especially in children. Further, research is required to provide a clearer understanding of how salivary biomarkers may be used for understanding the impact of obesity and physical inactivity on paediatric health. This will play a role in the development of appropriate physical activity and exercise guidelines for children.

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Strategies for salivary cortisol collection and analysis in research with children

Cited by 176 publications

References 35 publications

Sampling compliance for cortisol upon awakening in children and adolescents

Sampling compliance for cortisol upon awakening in children and adolescents

Stability of the diurnal cortisol profile in children and adolescents

Salivary Biomarkers in Children: Exercise, Physical Activity and Obesity Studies

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