The Cortisol Awakening Response Test and Chronic Stress, Depression, Obesity, and Type 2 Diabetes

As discussed in a previous blog post, cortisol is known as the stress hormone because stress significantly affects the amount of cortisol released by your adrenal glands. While acute stress tends to significantly increase your cortisol level, cortisol is also produced during non-stressful times and is crucial for the optimal function of your body every day. In healthy individuals, cortisol levels naturally shift throughout the day in a pattern known as a diurnal rhythm. A diurnal rhythm is a circadian rhythm that is repeated every 24 hours and synchronized with the day/night cycle.¹

Here is an example of a healthy diurnal rhythm:

A unique and dramatic component of the 24-hour cortisol diurnal rhythm is the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR). The CAR was first described in the 1990s and provides insight into the health of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. During a normal day, the most substantial shift in your cortisol level occurs during the CAR.²

In a healthy individual, the daily cortisol level peaks 30–45 min post-awakening, and the cortisol level should increase by at least 50% during the CAR compared to the cortisol level at awakening.³ The CAR is significantly larger following morning awakenings compared to afternoon awakenings. Research shows the CAR tends to be absent after an evening nap, suggesting the overall circadian rhythm of the HPA axis and the influence of light during morning awakenings both play a role in the CAR.⁴

An abnormal CAR can be either heightened or blunted and the magnitude of the CAR correlates with neuropsychiatric and metabolic health conditions.² According to research, an abnormal CAR is associated with several health concerns, including obesity, clinical depression, chronic stress, and type 2 diabetes.⁵

Image credit: Champaneri S, Xu X, Carnethon MR, et al. Diurnal salivary cortisol and urinary catecholamines are associated with diabetes mellitus: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Metabolism. 2012;61(7):986-995. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2011.11.006

A, B, and C in the image above demonstrate the powerful Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR), which is a dramatic and natural part of the daily diurnal cortisol rhythm.

“A” in the image above is the salivary cortisol level at time zero, which is when you wake up in the morning. “B” is the significant rise in the salivary cortisol level during the CAR, which occurs approximately 30-45 minutes after awakening. “C” is the natural decrease in the salivary cortisol level after the CAR. “D” depicts the decline in the salivary cortisol level that occurs between morning and bedtime.⁶

The Cortisol Awakening Response Test and Obesity

While the data conflicts at times, in general, adults with obesity often display a blunted diurnal pattern, which manifests as decreased cortisol variability, lower morning cortisol levels upon awakening, higher cortisol levels in the evening, and a smaller overall change in cortisol levels throughout the day.⁷

Champaneri et al. determined there is a direct association between the diurnal cortisol profile and abdominal obesity that is independent of demographics, socioeconomic status, medications, and smoking. The study included over 6,800 men and women who were 45 to 84 years of age. According to the analysis, there was a significant negative association between the cortisol awakening response and body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). A negative or inverse association means the higher the BMI and the larger the waist circumference, the more blunted the cortisol awakening response. These findings are consistent with several other studies that also included a large number of participants.⁸

A clinical trial by Yu et al. demonstrated that obese children also have a dampened or blunted circadian cortisol rhythm. The flat or blunted awakening response and less sharply declining cortisol levels directly correlated with heavier weight in the study participants. Dysfunction in the HPA axis is a known risk factor for metabolic diseases, such as obesity, and is closely related to negative health outcomes. Therefore, testing and stabilizing circadian cortisol rhythms could be an effective approach to preventing childhood obesity, according to the authors of the study.⁷

The Cortisol Awakening Response Test and Type 2 Diabetes

There is a significant association between blood sugar management and cortisol. In addition to many other beneficial effects throughout the body, cortisol increases blood sugar levels as needed for the production of energy throughout the day. When cortisol levels are chronically elevated, though, they can increase blood glucose levels too much, induce insulin resistance, and contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. When tested, those with diabetes tend to have higher baseline cortisol levels and higher cortisol output over 24 hours. Thus, the data suggests dysregulation of the HPA axis is associated with diabetes.^6,9

The results of research on the CAR in those with diabetes have been mixed, though the association is becoming clearer and more refined as larger research studies are published.^6,9,10 According to the latest data, the CAR is blunted in those with diabetes compared to those without diabetes; however, this association appears to be more significant in men and Caucasian populations.^6,9-13

It is possible that unhealthy changes in the cortisol circadian rhythm occur before the development of diabetes. Therefore, maintaining a healthier and more robust CAR could prevent the progression toward abnormal blood sugar metabolism and diabetes.¹² A blunted CAR and flattening of the diurnal cortisol curve, or hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, is also associated with insulin resistance, depression, and stress.¹⁴

The Cortisol Awakening Response Test and Clinical Depression

Like type 2 diabetes, studies examining the association between the CAR and clinical depression have found that an abnormal CAR is significantly associated with depression, but the specifics of the association are still unclear. Some studies report a blunted CAR in depressed patients, whereas others report an increased or exaggerated CAR. Recent research, however, suggests that the CAR is moderated by the severity of the depression. Mild to moderate depression appears to be associated with a normal or heightened CAR, while severe or chronic depression is associated with a blunted CAR.¹⁵ There is speculation the CAR could be a sensitive test that can capture biological vulnerability to depression, and some clinicians refer to the CAR as “an index of one’s overall vulnerability to depression.”³

Researchers suggest that a long period of mental or physical stress, such as clinical depression, may reduce the number or sensitivity of cortisol receptors so that the HPA axis becomes less responsive.^15,16 Therefore, lower cortisol levels might occur after a long period of elevated cortisol levels, which could explain the shift in the CAR as the severity of the depression increases.¹⁵

Researchers also suggest a “flexible CAR,” characterized by a lower CAR on weekends and higher CAR on weekdays, as expected in a healthy population, could be associated with successful coping and a resilient psychological profile.¹⁵

The Cortisol Awakening Response Test and Chronic Stress

Chronic stress is defined as repeated or constant exposure to psychological stressors. Chronic stress can significantly impact mental and physical health, as we have discussed in previous blog posts. One of the biological processes thought to contribute to the association between chronic stress and well-being is the dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.¹⁷

Given the increased interest in mind-body medicine and understanding the significant links between chronic stress and health, many researchers are assessing the clinical usefulness of tests that can provide quantitative measures of stress-related alterations in your biological processes.¹⁷

Cortisol has been identified and recommended as an HPA axis marker by the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR).¹⁷ The HPA axis is the most important neuroendocrine stress system, and the cortisol awakening response (CAR) is a core biomarker of HPA axis regulation.¹⁸ A flattened or blunted CAR is one of the most reliable and consistent markers of HPA axis dysfunction.¹⁹

Duan et al. investigated the effect of chronic stress on the CAR in healthy young men studying for a major examination in China. An academic exam is a substantial stress for students in China that results in high psychological and physiological strain. To pass the examination, the young participants in the study spent an average of 9.6 hours studying each day for approximately six months.²⁰

The results demonstrated that self-reported perceived stress and anxiety levels were significantly higher in the examination group. Moreover, the CAR of the examination group was blunted compared to the non-exam control group, and this blunting effect was most pronounced in the participants who reported the highest levels of perceived stress.²⁰

Several other studies have confirmed an association between a blunted CAR and stress-related disorders, such as burnout, PTSD, cognitive deficits, and chronic fatigue syndrome.^20,21 Research data also shows a decreased CAR is present in chronically stressed caregivers and middle-aged women who have high chronic economic hardship or job-related stress.²⁰

The Cortisol Awakening Response Test, Stress Management, and Preventing Chronic Disease

Consider testing your salivary cortisol levels today. Once you know more about your Cortisol Awaking Response and Circadian Cortisol Profile, if needed, you can begin a nourishing stress management protocol that might improve the health of your HPA axis and adrenal glands.

According to the latest research, an optimal Cortisol Awaking Response and healthy cortisol levels may reduce the risk of developing obesity, type 2 diabetes, depression, and many other chronic health concerns.

Seriphos, Adapt, and B-KalmPlexus support a healthy stress response and optimal cortisol levels.* Read more about Adrenal Support and InterPlexus supplements here.

* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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References:

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