Beyond Cortisol: Salivary Cortisone for Stress Response Research
When studying the body’s response to stress, cortisol often takes center stage—but it’s not acting alone. Cortisone, a downstream cortisol metabolite, offers a unique and biologically relevant insight into hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dynamics. A recent study from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro highlights the value of measuring cortisone alongside cortisol, showing how salivary cortisone may better reflect serum cortisol patterns during the post-awakening period.
Measuring Salivary Cortisone
In this controlled lab study, researchers tracked both salivary and serum hormone responses in the human participants (n=12) every 15 minutes for an hour after waking. The team assayed saliva for cortisol and cortisone, while they analyzed serum samples for total cortisol. For salivary cortisone quantification, the research team used Arbor Assays’ Cortisone ELISA Kit (K017-H). All samples were run in duplicate, and the assay demonstrated strong analytical sensitivity (LOD = 0.16 nmol/L) and low intra- and inter-assay variability (<6%).
A Distinct and Informative Cortisone Awakening Response
The researchers found that salivary cortisone exhibited a distinct and statistically robust rise following awakening, closely mirroring serum cortisol changes. Cortisone levels in saliva showed strong, linear correlations with serum cortisol dynamics, with key measures significantly associated (p < 0.001 for total hormone output and p = 0.030 for rate of increase).
By contrast, salivary cortisol measures showed weaker associations and did not consistently correlate with serum results. These findings suggest that measuring salivary cortisone offers a more precise and reliable way to capture systemic stress hormone activity—particularly when non-invasive sampling is needed. By broadening biomarker panels to include cortisone, researchers can improve the accuracy of HPA-axis assessments in both laboratory and real-world settings.
Why Cortisone Matters: Biological Rationale in Stress Research
While cortisol remains a core HPA-axis biomarker, these results suggest it doesn’t tell the full story. In the salivary glands, the enzyme 11β-HSD2 rapidly converts cortisol to cortisone—making cortisone more abundant in saliva and potentially more reflective of circulating hormone activity. This study demonstrated a consistent linear relationship between salivary cortisone and serum cortisol, particularly during biologically dynamic periods like awakening. Incorporating cortisone into stress hormone panels enables researchers to generate complete and physiologically meaningful data.
A Broader Toolkit for Better Insights
This research reinforces the importance of expanding hormone panels beyond cortisol alone. By including cortisone and using high-performance tools like Arbor Assays’ Cortisone ELISA Kits, researchers can enhance study sensitivity, gain deeper insights into HPA-axis function, and reduce participant burden through non-invasive sample collection.
Explore Arbor Assays’ entire catalog of stress-related hormone kits to build a more complete picture of the stress response—from cortisol to cortisone and beyond.
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