title: Unstimulated whole saliva cortisol levels during Ramadan in Iranian Muslims.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ramadan is a great opportunity for scientific research due to its peculiar nature. This study was designed to investigate whether morning saliva cortisol pick can change during and after Ramadan compared to before it.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 healthy volunteer men (aged between 30 and 76 years) were asked to participate in a cross-sectional study between August 12 and September 10, 2010. Saliva was collected 2 weeks before the beginning of Ramadan (BR), during the first week (R1), middle (R2), the last week (R3) of Ramadan and 3 weeks after Ramadan (AR). Cortisol concentration was analyzed by ELISA. Statistical analysis of one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean unstimulated saliva cortisol concentration and its output were significantly higher in the BR than during and after Ramadan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mean saliva cortisol concentration and its output tended to be lower during and 3 weeks after Ramadan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cortisol as a stress hormone seems to be low during Ramadan.
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Research Center, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran Iran.
authors.forename: Behnoosh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vasaghi-Gharamaleki
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, e-mail: emirzaii@razi.tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Iraj
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mirzaii-Dizgah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005215:Fasting / Q000502:physiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006693:Holidays; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D007492:Iran; D007514:Islam; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone