title: Relation between salivary cortisol as stress biomarker and dietary pattern in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Psychological stress has been suggested to result in hormonal effects (e.g. changes in cortisol pattern) that may change food selection in unhealthy ways. This study examines whether children's dietary pattern is indeed related to salivary cortisol levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 323 children (5-10 years old) participating in the Belgian ChiBS study, salivary cortisol samples, a biomarker for stress, was sampled when waking up, 30 and 60 min after wake up and in the evening on two consecutive weekdays. Data on the children's dietary pattern (frequency of sweet foods, fatty foods, snacks, fruit and vegetables) was collected with a food frequency questionnaire. Multilevel time modelling was used with adjustments for sex, age, body mass index, parental education and wake up time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher overall cortisol levels and a large cortisol awakening response (CAR) were associated with more frequent consumption of sweet foods. A steeper diurnal cortisol decline was associated with a higher sweet, fatty and snack food consumption frequency. No associations with fruit and vegetables consumption were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High cortisol levels were linked to an unhealthier dietary pattern (more fatty food, snacks and especially sweet food). This supports the theory of cortisol-induced comfort food preference and strengthens the stress-diet relation.
authors: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 2 Blok A, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Nathalie.michels@ugent.be.
authors: Nathalie
authors: N
authors: Michels
authors: Isabelle
authors: I
authors: Sioen
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Braet
authors: Inge
authors: I
authors: Huybrechts
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Vanaelst
authors: Maike
authors: M
authors: Wolters
authors: Stefaan
authors: S
authors: De Henauw
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium; D015415:Biomarkers; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D004522:Educational Status; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012636:Secretory Rate; D062410:Snacks / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004041:Dietary Fats; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: ChiBS study; Children; Comfort food; Cortisol; Diet; Food frequency; Stress