title: Poor sleep and altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical and sympatho-adrenal-medullary system activity in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neuroendocrine alterations, with well-known links with health, may offer insight into why poor sleep is associated with poor health. Yet, studies testing associations between sleep and neuroendocrine activity in children are scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine whether actigraphy-based sleep pattern is associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis and sympatho-adrenal-medullary system activity in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study in a birth cohort in Helsinki, Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 282 8-yr-old children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured diurnal salivary cortisol and salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase (a sympatho-adrenal-medullary system marker) responses to the Trier Social Stress Test for Children (TSST-C).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with short (<or=7.7 h) vs. average sleep duration (7.8-9.3 h) displayed higher cortisol awakening response and nadir (P < 0.042). Those with low (<or=77.4%) vs. average-high sleep efficiency (>77.4%) displayed higher diurnal cortisol levels across the entire day (P < 0.03), higher cortisol levels after the TSST-C stressor (P < 0.04), and higher overall alpha-amylase levels across the entire TSST-C protocol (P < 0.05). The effects were not confounded by factors that may alter sleep or hormonal patterns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Poor sleep may signal altered neuroendocrine functioning in children. The findings may offer insight into the pathways linking poor sleep with poor health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 9 (Siltavuorenpenger 20 D), 00014 Helsinki, Finland. katri.raikkonen@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Katri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Räikkönen
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: Anu-Katriina
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Pesonen
authors.forename: Riikka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pyhälä
authors.forename: E Juulia
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Paavonen
authors.forename: Kimmo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Feldt
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: David I W
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Seckl
authors.forename: Kati
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heinonen
authors.forename: Jari
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lahti
authors.forename: Niina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Komsi
authors.forename: Anna-Liisa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Järvenpää
authors.forename: Johan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: Timo E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Strandberg
authors.forename: Eero
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kajantie
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014851:Wakefulness
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone