Salivary cortisol as an indicator of adrenocortical function in healthy infants, using massage therapy

Authors

  • Monalisa de Cássia Fogaça Universidade Federal de São Paulo — Escola Paulista de Medicina
  • Werther Brunow Carvalho Universidade Federal de São Paulo — Escola Paulista de Medicina
  • Clóvis de Araújo Peres Universidade Federal de São Paulo — Escola Paulista de Medicina
  • Mayra Ivanoff Lora Universidade Federal de São Paulo — Escola Paulista de Medicina
  • Lilian Fukusima Hayashi Universidade Federal de São Paulo — Escola Paulista de Medicina
  • Ieda Therezinha do Nascimento Verreschi Universidade Federal de São Paulo — Escola Paulista de Medicina

Keywords:

Pituitary-adrenal system, Massage, Infant, Circadian rhythm, Stress

Abstract

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: The evaluation of adrenocortical function with the use of therapeu- tic massage has been little studied in Brazil. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the salivary cortisol levels before and after Shantala massage therapy on healthy infants. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective case series, in a public nursery, in São Paulo. METHODS: Saliva was obtained from 11 infants at the times of 8:00-9:00 a.m. and 4:00-5:00 p.m. in a nursery and 9:00-10:00 p.m. at home. They received a 15-minute therapeutic massage on two consecutive days, and saliva was collected before and after the massage. The procedure was repeated after a one week interval. Cortisol values (intra-assay < 5%; inter-assay < 10%) at different times of the day were compared by ANOVA. RESULTS: The mean cortisol values (nmol/l ± SD) on the first day were: morning (M) = 14.1 ± 5.7, afternoon (A) = 8.3 ± 2.7, night (N) = 3.3 ± ± 1.1; after two consecutive days of therapeutic massage: M = 22.3 ± 13.5, A = 13.4 ± 6.0, N = 5.8 ± 3.5; after a one-week interval: M = 15.8 ± 7.7, A = 14.3 ± 7.7, N = 3.4 ± 2.0. CONCLUSION: There was a modification in the salivary cortisol values following massage, thus reflecting possible adaptation of the hypotha- lamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

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Author Biographies

Monalisa de Cássia Fogaça, Universidade Federal de São Paulo — Escola Paulista de Medicina

Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo — Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil.

Werther Brunow Carvalho, Universidade Federal de São Paulo — Escola Paulista de Medicina

MD, PhD. Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo — Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil.

Clóvis de Araújo Peres, Universidade Federal de São Paulo — Escola Paulista de Medicina

PhD. Department of Preventive Medicine, Biostatistics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo — Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil.

Mayra Ivanoff Lora, Universidade Federal de São Paulo — Escola Paulista de Medicina

Department of Preventive Medicine, Biostatistics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo — Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil.

Lilian Fukusima Hayashi, Universidade Federal de São Paulo — Escola Paulista de Medicina

Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo — Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil.

Ieda Therezinha do Nascimento Verreschi, Universidade Federal de São Paulo — Escola Paulista de Medicina

MD, PhD. Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo — Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil.

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Published

2005-09-09

How to Cite

1.
Fogaça M de C, Carvalho WB, Peres C de A, Lora MI, Hayashi LF, Verreschi IT do N. Salivary cortisol as an indicator of adrenocortical function in healthy infants, using massage therapy. Sao Paulo Med J [Internet]. 2005 Sep. 9 [cited 2025 Oct. 16];123(5):215-8. Available from: https://periodicosapm.emnuvens.com.br/spmj/article/view/2350

Issue

Vol. 123 No. 5 (2005)

Section

Original Article

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