title: Salivary cortisol as an indicator of adrenocortical function in healthy infants, using massage therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The evaluation of adrenocortical function with the use of therapeutic massage has been little studied in Brazil. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the salivary cortisol levels before and after Shantala massage therapy on healthy infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective case series, in a public nursery, in São Paulo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Saliva was obtained from 11 infants at the times of 8:00-9:00 a.m. and 4:00-5:00 p.m. in a nursery and 9:00-10:00 p.m. at home. They received a 15-minute therapeutic massage on two consecutive days, and saliva was collected before and after the massage. The procedure was repeated after a one-week interval. Cortisol values (intra-assay < 5%; inter-assay < 10%) at different times of the day were compared by ANOVA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean cortisol values (nmol/l +/- SD) on the first day were: morning (M) = 14.1 +/- 5.7, afternoon (A) = 8.3 +/- 2.7, night (N) = 3.3 +/- 1.1; after two consecutive days of therapeutic massage: M = 22.3 +/- 13.5, A = 13.4 +/- 6.0, N = 5.8 +/- 3.5; after a one-week interval: M = 15.8 +/- 7.7, A = 14.3 +/- 7.7, N = 3.4 +/- 2.0.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a modification in the salivary cortisol values following massage, thus reflecting possible adaptation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Monalisa de Cássia
authors.initials: Mde C
authors.lastname: Fogaça
authors.forename: Werther Brunow
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Clóvis de Araújo
authors.initials: Cde A
authors.lastname: Peres
authors.forename: Mayra Ivanoff
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Lora
authors.forename: Lilian Fukusima
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Ieda Therezinha do Nascimento
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Verreschi
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006854:Hydrocortisone