Evaluation and Comparison of Cortisol Levels in Saliva and Hair among Dental Students

Abstract

Cortisol has frequently been used as a stress marker, and the variation in cortisol levels in saliva and hair, as well as between males and females, has been reported. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the level of cortisol variation in hair and saliva among dental students of both genders. After giving written agreement, 151 students (79 males and 72 females) participated in the study. Saliva and hair samples were collected at two time intervals with a gap of three months from the same set of participants. Saliva and hair samples were utilized to measure the levels of cortisol using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Each participant’s salivary and hair cortisol levels and demographic information, including age and gender, were recorded. To examine group comparisons, two-tailed Student’s t-tests were used (α < 0.05). The comparisons of salivary and hair cortisol levels showed significant difference (p < 0.05) at two time intervals. Genderwise comparisons of the salivary and hair cortisol’s levels showed significant differences (p < 0.05) for male students, while, for female students, the comparisons showed non-significant differences (p > 0.05). Comparisons between the cortisol levels of the two specimen collections at the two different time intervals indicated substantial variations (p = 0.000). Results confirm the variations in the cortisol levels in the saliva and hair samples. Cortisol concentrations in hair and saliva at the two times points varied. Significant variations between the male students salivary and hair cortisol levels and non-significant differences between the cortisol levels for the female students at the two time points were found. Cortisol levels in the selected subjects’ saliva and hair samples varied.