Salivary cortisol as an indicator of adrenocortical function in healthy infants, using massage therapy.
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.
Fogaça
Monalisa de Cássia
Mde C
Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil.
Carvalho
Werther Brunow
WB
Peres
Clóvis de Araújo
Cde A
Lora
Mayra Ivanoff
MI
Hayashi
Lilian Fukusima
LF
Verreschi
Ieda Therezinha do Nascimento
IT
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
D015415:Biomarkers; D006854:Hydrocortisone