Diabetes Metab J.  2012 Jun;36(3):245-250. 10.4093/dmj.2012.36.3.245.

The Association between Midnight Salivary Cortisol and Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Adults

Affiliations
  • 1Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. skh2k@kuh.ac.kr

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The common characteristics of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and Cushing's syndrome suggest that excess cortisol may be involved in the pathogenesis of MetS. Salivary cortisol measurements are simple and can be surrogates for plasma free cortisol, which is the most biologically active form. We evaluated the association between levels of midnight salivary cortisol and MetS in Korean adults.
METHODS
A total of 46 subjects, aged 20 to 70 years, who visited the Health Care Center at Konkuk University Hospital from August 2008 to August 2009 were enrolled. We compared the levels of midnight salivary cortisol in subjects with MetS with those in subjects without MetS. We analyzed the associations between midnight salivary cortisol levels and components of MetS.
RESULTS
Midnight salivary cortisol levels were higher in the MetS group (70+/-42.4 ng/dL, n=12) than that in the group without MetS (48.1+/-36.8 ng/dL, n=34) (P=0.001). Positive correlations were observed between midnight salivary cortisol levels and waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. The risk for MetS was significantly higher in subjects with midnight salivary cortisol levels > or =100 ng/dL than in those with levels <50 ng/dL (odds ratio, 5.9; 95% confidence interval, 2.35 to 36.4).
CONCLUSION
The results showed a positive correlation between midnight salivary cortisol levels and MetS, suggesting that hypercortisolism may be related to MetS.

Keyword

Corticosteroid; Insulin resistance; Metabolic syndrome

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Blood Glucose
Cushing Syndrome
Delivery of Health Care
Fasting
Homeostasis
Humans
Hydrocortisone
Insulin Resistance
Plasma
Waist Circumference
Blood Glucose
Hydrocortisone

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