A nonlinear relationship of generalized and central obesity with diurnal cortisol secretion in the Whitehall II study.
BACKGROUND
Evidence for an association of measures of generalized and central obesity with salivary cortisol secretion is equivocal.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and salivary cortisol.


METHODS
The design was a cross-sectional study of BMI, waist circumference, and salivary cortisol from phase 7 (2002-2004) of the Whitehall II study.


METHODS
The occupational cohort was originally recruited in 1985-1988.


METHODS
Participants included 2915 men and 1041 women aged 50-74 yr with complete information on height, weight and waist circumference, and cortisol secretion.


METHODS
Saliva samples were taken on waking, waking plus 0.5, 2.5, 8, and 12 h, and bedtime for the assessment of cortisol. The cortisol awakening response and slope in diurnal secretion were calculated.


RESULTS
After adjustment for age, sex, social position, waking time, and time since waking of sample collection, increasing central and generalized obesity was associated with lower waking cortisol (P = 0.001). U-shaped associations were apparent between diurnal slope in salivary cortisol and both BMI and waist circumference (P < 0.0001 for quadratic term). For example, the shallowest (most adverse) slopes in salivary cortisol were associated with highest (>31 kg/m(2)) and lowest (<21 kg/m(2)) levels of BMI, and the steepest slopes were apparent for those with BMI of 26 kg/m(2), independently of the 12 covariates examined. No associations were apparent for the cortisol awakening response (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The associations of measures of generalized and central obesity with diurnal slope in salivary cortisol are not linear in older adults. These nonlinear associations may explain previously described mixed findings.
Kumari
Meena
M
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, 2-16 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom. m.kumari@ucl.ac.uk
Chandola
Tarani
T
Brunner
Eric
E
Kivimaki
Mika
M
D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism*; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000378:metabolism*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006113:United Kingdom; D055105:Waist Circumference
D006854:Hydrocortisone