Diurnal cortisol rhythms among Latino immigrants in Oregon, USA

Bibliographic Data

ID5219119
AuthorsErica C Squires (University of Oregon, corresponding author), Heather H Mcclure (Oregon Social Learning Center), Charles R Martinez (0000-0002-8678-6731, Oregon Social Learning Center), J Mark Eddy (0000-0001-5847-3052, Oregon Social Learning Center), Roberto A Jiménez, Laura E Isiordia, J Josh Snodgra (0000-0001-8877-7153), Jeffrey Snodgra (0000-0002-7021-777X, University of Oregon)
Year2012
Volume31
Issue1
Pages19-19
Publication date2012-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of PHYSIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1880-6791 • E-ISSN: 1880-6805
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1186/1880-6805-31-19
PMID22738123
PMCIDPMC3541162
OpenAlexW2142491125
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited50

One of the most commonly used stress biomarkers is cortisol, a glucocorticoid hormone released by the adrenal glands that is central to the physiological stress response. Free cortisol can be measured in saliva and has been the biomarker of choice in stress studies measuring the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Chronic psychosocial stress can lead to dysregulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function and results in an abnormal diurnal cortisol profile. Little is known about objectively measured stress and health in Latino populations in the United States, yet this is likely an important factor in understanding health disparities that exist between Latinos and whites. The present study was designed to measure cortisol profiles among Latino immigrant farmworkers in Oregon (USA), and to compare quantitative and qualitative measures of stress in this population. Our results indicate that there were no sex differences in average cortisol AUCg (area under the curve with respect to the ground) over two days (AvgAUCg; males = 1.38, females = 1.60; P = 0.415). AUCg1 (Day 1 AUCg) and AvgAUCg were significantly negatively associated with age in men (P<0.05). AUCg1 was negatively associated with weight (P<0.05), waist circumference (P<0.01) and waist-to-stature ratio (P<0.05) in women, which is opposite of the expected relationship between cortisol and waist-to-stature ratio, possibly indicating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation. Among men, more time in the United States and immigration to the United States at older ages predicted greater AvgAUCg. Among women, higher lifestyle incongruity was significantly related to greater AvgAUCg. Although preliminary, these results suggest that chronic psychosocial stress plays an important role in health risk in this population

Area under the curve · Biology · Biomarker · Cortisol awakening response · Environmental health · Glucocorticoid · Hormone · Hydrocortisone · Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis · Obesity · Population · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Waist · Demography · Hormonal Regulation and Hypertension · Medicine · Stress Responses and Cortisol · Tryptophan and brain disorders · Endocrinology · Internal Medicine

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