Further support for higher salivary cortisol levels in “morning” compared to “evening” persons

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2007.03.016

Journal of Psychosomatic Research

Volume 62, Issue 5, May 2007, Pages 595-596

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2007.03.016 Get rights and content

Abstract

We analyzed free cortisol daytime levels in a “3-days-7-samples-a-day” protocol in relation to morningness in 112 middle-aged male and female adults derived from the first year of data of the Trier Teacher Stress Study using a one-item proxy for the assessment of chronotype. First, log-transformed cortisol levels were analyzed by a repeated-measures approach controlling for relevant covariates. Results yielded an almost significant main effect of morningness (P=.06). Subsequent within-day analyses, additionally controlling for awakening time, resulted in (marginally) significant main effects of morningness at Day 1 (P=.06) and Day 3 (P=.05) and a significant interaction of sample-by-morningness at Day 2 (P=.04). In sum, the present data seem to corroborate the idea of higher daytime cortisol levels in morning relative to evening types in a sample of healthy middle-aged male and female adults.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Emmy Noether research grant KU 1401/4-1 and KU 1401/4-2 of the German Research Foundation (DFG) awarded to Brigitte M. Kudielka.

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Chronotype acts upon the diurnal cortisol profile regulated by the HPA-axis. For example, several studies indicate significantly higher salivary cortisol levels in the first hour after awakening (Kudielka et al., 2007, 2006; Randler and Schaal, 2010) and an earlier occuring acrophase of the circadian rhythm of total cortisol (Bailey and Heitkemper, 2001) in morning compared to evening chronotypes. Also, females with the evening chronotype show significantly higher diurnal cortisol output on leisure days (Dockray and Steptoe, 2011) and in obese short-sleeping participants evening tendency is associated with higher morning plasma ACTH and urinary epinephrine concentrations (Lucassen et al., 2013).
: Chronotype influences several physiological systems, including the immune system and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis. Previous research has shown that evening chronotype is associated with adverse metabolic health outcomes and obesity. However, the exact mechanisms underlying the observed differences in metabolic function between “morning” and “evening” types remain to be explored.
: To investigate the relationship of chronotype with inflammatory and neuroendocrine stress markers and to explore their mediating and moderating roles in the association between chronotype and body mass index (BMI).
: Twenty-eight healthy young adults (50% women), mean age 23.8 ± 3.3 (SD) years, underwent a standardized laboratory stress test (Trier Social Stress Test, TSST). Concentrations of plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) at baseline and of salivary cortisol before and after the onset of the stressor were analyzed. Heart rate was measured continuously. Chronotype was assessed with the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ).
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Chronotypes differ with regards to their sleeping behavior, personality, mental health, and other features. In healthy adults, free cortisol daytime levels were higher in M-type relative to E-type,128 and, after a stressor-test, E-types had lower salivary cortisol levels and flattened diurnal curve in comparison with M-types.129 Furthermore, the enhanced physiologic arousal in E-types might contribute to increased vulnerability to psychological distress.130
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Letter to the EditorFurther support for higher salivary cortisol levels in “morning” compared to “evening” persons

Abstract

Section snippets

Acknowledgments

Biol Psychol

Biol Psychol

Does the biorhythm of morningness or eveningness predict the arterial blood pressure level?

Ann Clin Res

Circadian rhythmicity of cortisol and body temperature: morningness–eveningness effects

Chronobiol Int

Letter to the Editor
Further support for higher salivary cortisol levels in “morning” compared to “evening” persons