title: Nutritional, metabolic and cardiovascular correlations of morning cortisol in health care workers in a gastroenterology service.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Workplace stress has been associated with obesity. Diminished body weight has also been anticipated in some contexts.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In a cohort of healthcare personnel, morning cortisol was compared to nutritional and metabolic variables, aiming to identify the correlates of such marker.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population n=185, 33.8 ± 9.8 years, 88.1% females, body mass index (BMI) 25.6 ± 4.4 kg/m2, included nurses and other nosocomial professionals, the majority with high social-economic status (75.2%). Participants were stratified according to BMI, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and metabolic syndrome (MS). Fasting plasma cortisol and the Framingham Coronary Risk Score was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean cortisol was acceptable (19.4 ± 7.9 µg/dL) although with elevation in 21.6%. No correlation with FBG or MS occurred, and nonobese persons (BMI <25) exhibited the highest values (P=0.049). Comparison of the lowest and highest cortisol quartiles confirmed reduced BMI and waist circumference in the former, with unchanged Framingham Coronary Risk Score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cortisol correlated with reduced BMI. Despite low BMI and waist circumference, Framingham Coronary Risk Score was not benefitted, suggesting that exposure to cardiovascular risk continues, besides psychological strain. Initiatives to enhance organizational and staff health are advisable in the hospital environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Faculdade Nossa Senhora de Fátima, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Faculdade Nossa Senhora de Fátima, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Rafael Marques
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Faculdade Nossa Senhora de Fátima, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pezzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Faculdade Nossa Senhora de Fátima, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Francisco Juarez
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Karkow
authors.affiliation: Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Faintuch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D006854:Hydrocortisone