Download PDF
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Health and Allied Sciences NU 2014; 04(03): 025-027
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1703795
Original Article

SALIVARY CORTISOL LEVELS IN MOTHERS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM - A BIOCHEMICAL STUDY

Anshad Mohamed Abdulla
1   P.G. Student, Department of Pedodontics & Preventive Dentistry, A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte University, Mangalore - 575 018, Karnataka, India
,
Amitha M Hegde
2   Professor & HoD, Reader, Department of Pedodontics & Preventive Dentistry, A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte University, Mangalore - 575 018, Karnataka, India
,
Manju Gopakumar
1   P.G. Student, Department of Pedodontics & Preventive Dentistry, A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte University, Mangalore - 575 018, Karnataka, India
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
Also available at
  PDF Download Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Background: Cortisol is a hormonal marker of stress which gets released into the blood by adrenal glands during a stressful situation. Mothers of children with autism will usually be experiencing great psychological trauma and therefore will be under high levels of stress. This stress might disturb the health and normal physiology of these mothers thus there is a need for study on the stress markers like cortisol in mothers of children with autism.

Materials and Methods: Saliva of 20 mothers of children with autism and 20 mothers of healthy children were collected during early hours of the day (8 – 8.30 am) and during evenings (4 – 4.15 pm) subjected for cortisol assay using ELISA test. RESULTS: Mothers of children with autism were found to have significantly lower levels of salivary cortisol throughout the day as compared to mothers of healthy children.

Conclusion: There is a need for interventions for mothers of children with autism

Keywords

Autism - Stress - Cortisol


Publication History

Article published online:
26 April 2020

© .

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd.
A-12, Second Floor, Sector -2, NOIDA -201301, India

 

  • References

  • 1 Corbett BA, Schupp CW, Levine S, Mendoza S. Comparing cortisol, stress and sensory sensitivity in children with autism. Autism Res 2009; 2(1):39-49.
  • 2 Price DA, Close GC, Fielding BA. Age of appearance of circadian rhythm in salivary cortisol values in infancy. Arch Dis Child 1983; 58(6):454–456.
  • 3 Flinn M W. Evolution and ontogeny of stress response to social challenges in the human child. Developmental Review 2006;26:138–174.
  • 4 McEwen B S. Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators. The New England Journal of Medicine 1998; 338: 171–179.
  • 5 Segerstrom S C, Miller G E. Psychological stress and the human immune system: A meta-analytic study of 30 years of inquire. Psychological Bulletin 2004;130:601–630.
  • 6 M M Seltzer, JS Greenberg, J Hong, L E Smith, D M Almeida, R S Stawski etal. Maternal cortisol levels and behavior problems in adolescents and adults with ASD. J Autism Dev Disord 2010; 40(4): 457–469.
  • 7 Herring S, Gray K., Taffe J, Tonge B, Sweeney D, Einfeld S. Behavior and emotional problems in toddlers with pervasive developmental disorders and developmental delay: Associations with parental mental health and family functioning. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 2006; 50: 874–882.
  • 8 Lounds J J, Seltzer M M, Greenberg J S, Shattuck P. Transition and change in adolescents and young adults with autism: Longitudinal effects on maternal well-being. American Journal on Mental Retardation 2007; 112:401–417.
  • 9 Sreebny LM, Banoczy J, Baum BJ, Edgar WM, Epstein JB, Fox PC Saliva: Its role in health and disease. IDJ 1992;42:291-304.
  • 10 Ki rschbaum C, Hel lhammer D H. Sal ivary cor t i sol in psychoneuroendocrine research: Recent developments and applications. Psychoneuroendocrinology 1994; 19, 313–333.
  • 11 Heim C, Ehlert U, Hellhammer D H. The potential role of hypocortisolism in the pathophysiology of stress-related bodily disorders. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2000;25:1–35.
  • 12 Yehuda R, Boisoneau D, Lowy M T, Giller E L. Dose-response changes in plasma cortisol and lymphocyte glucocorticoid receptors following dexamethasone administration in combat veterans with and without posttraumatic stress disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry 1995 a; 52: 583–593.
  • 13 Miller G E, Cohen S, Ritchey A K. Chronic psychological stress and the regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines: A glucocorticoid-resistance model. Health Psychology 2002;21:531–541.