Glucose but Not Protein or Fat Load Amplifies the Cortisol Response to Psychosocial Stress
Abstract
We previously reported that glucose intake amplifies cortisol response to psychosocial stress and smoking in healthy young men, while low blood glucose levels prevented the stress-induced activation of the hypothalamus pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. However, it remains unknown whether this modulation is specific for glucose load or a more common effect of energy availability. To elucidate this question, 37 healthy men, who fasted for at least 8 h before the experiment, were randomly assigned to four experimental groups, who received glucose (n = 8), protein (n = 10), fat (n = 10), and water (n = 9), one h before their exposure to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Blood glucose levels were measured at baseline and following stress, while salivary cortisol was assessed repeatedly measured before after the TSST. The results show that both absolute cortisol levels and net cortisol increase were greater in the glucose group in comparison to the other groups (F(3,33) = 3.00, P < 0.05 and F(3,33) = 3.08, P < 0.05, respectively. No group differences were observed with respect to perceived stress and mood. Furthermore, the cortisol response was positively correlated with blood glucose changes (r = 0.49, P < 0.002). In conclusion, the results suggest a central mechanism responsible for regulation of energy balance and HPA axis activation, rather than peripheral mechanisms. We thus recommend controlling for blood glucose levels when studying HPA axis responsiveness.
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Ingestion of glucose, amino acids, protein, or mixed meals tends to increase serum and salivary cortisol concentrations in healthy adults.
“Ingestion of glucose, amino acids, protein, or mixed meals tends to increase serum and salivary cortisol concentrations in healthy adults (1–8).”
From Glucose ingestion selectively amplifies ACTH and cortisol secretory-burst mass and enhances their joint synchrony in healthy men. (2011) · cites this paper as [4]
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BackgroundDiurnal cortisol peaks and their relationships to meals
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Effects of nutrition on neuro-endocrine stress responses
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- Authors
- Gonzalez-Bono, E., Rohleder, N., Hellhammer, D. H., Salvador, A., & Kirschbaum, C.
- Affiliations
- Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (DE)
- Universität Trier (DE)
- Universitat de València (ES)
- Venue
- Hormones and Behavior
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2002-05
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 328-333
- ISSN
- 0018-506X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2158139100
- Cited by
- 127
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 2.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Hormones and Behavior (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adrenal Hormones and Disorders
- Keywords
- glucose load, cortisol response, psychosocial stress, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, energy availability, blood glucose, protein intake, dietary fat intake, Trier Social Stress Test, salivary cortisol, stress hormones, energy balance
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Blood Glucose, Dietary Fats, Dietary Proteins, Glucose, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Male, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Saliva, Stress, Psychological
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