Human basal cortisol levels are increased in hospital compared to home setting.
The impact of study-environment on experimental outcome is mostly not realized and certainly not demonstrated. In the present study, a comparison was made between free salivary cortisol levels in healthy young men in a carefully controlled hospital setting versus a home setting. Cortisol levels during rest were increased in hospital compared to home environment: 2-fold at awakening, 3-fold at the morning peak, and 5-fold late in the evening. Early morning light increased cortisol concentrations only in the home setting, while this effect was absent in the hospital setting. The data of the present study show that study-environment has a major impact on basal hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis activity, which is of particular relevance in future studies in which small changes in HPA-axis activity are subject of study.
Scheer
Frank A J L
FA
Department of Hypothalamic Integration Mechanisms, Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, 1105 AZ, The, Amsterdam, Netherlands. f.scheer@nih.knaw.nl
Van Paassen
Barbara
B
Van Montfrans
Gert A
GA
Fliers
Eric
E
Van Someren
Eus J W
EJ
Van Heerikhuize
Joop J
JJ
Buijs
Ruud M
RM
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D010045:Outpatients; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012890:Sleep; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000523:psychology*
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone