title: Physiological concentrations of serum cortisol are related to vascular risk markers in prepubertal children.
abstract: There is increasing evidence that cortisol contributes to cardiovascular risk. It is unclear whether physiological concentrations of serum cortisol are related to vascular risk markers in children. The cross-sectional associations between morning serum cortisol and cardiovascular risk markers: blood pressure (BP) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), were examined in a sample of healthy prepubertal children (age, 6.8 ± 0.1 y) attending primary care clinics. Serum cortisol was associated with increased systolic BP (SBP; n = 223; p < 0.001) and carotid IMT (n = 91; p < 0.0001). These associations were independent from age, BMI, body fat, waist, insulin resistance, serum lipids, and heart rate (HR). No gender interactions were apparent in these associations. In summary, a higher morning serum cortisol within the physiological range is in prepubertal children associated with vascular risk markers. Because childhood risk factors predict adult risk for cardiovascular disease, these observations may have implications in the prevention of cardiovascular disease early in life.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, Salut Empordà Foundation, 17600 Figueres, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soriano-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Inés
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Osiniri
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grau-Cabrera
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Riera-Pérez
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prats-Puig
authors.forename: Míriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carbonell-Alferez
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Carme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mora-Maruny
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Zegher
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ibánez
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bassols
authors.forename: Abel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López-Bermejo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006854:Hydrocortisone