Excessive glucocorticoid secretion has been associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and other features of the metabolic syndrome. We aimed to evaluate if basal salivary cortisol may predict occurrence of new insulin resistance (IR) or T2DM.
This was a prospective, population-based study derived from the CoLaus (Cohorte lausannoise) study including 1525 participants (aged 57.7 ± 10.3 y; 725 women). A total of 1149 individuals were free from diabetes at baseline. Fasting plasma glucose and insulin were measured after a follow-up of 5.3 y. Basal salivary cortisol was measured at baseline. The association between basal salivary cortisol level and incidence of IR or T2DM was analyzed by logistic regression, and the results were expressed for each independent variables as ORs and 95% CI.
After a median follow-up of 5.3 y, a total of 376 subjects (24.7%) developed IR and 32 subjects (2.1%) developed T2DM. Basal salivary cortisol divided in quartiles was not associated with incidence of IR or T2DM. Multivariable analysis for age, gender, body mass index, physical activity and smoking status showed no association between basal and incidence of IR (quartile 2 (Q2) OR: 1.01 (0.70-1.45), quartile 3 (Q3) OR: 1.01 (0.70-1.45), quartile 4 (Q4) OR: 1.05 (0.73-1.52), p=0.805) or T2DM (Q2 OR: 1.00 (0.37 - 2.73), Q3 OR: 0.96 (0.35 - 2.61), Q4 OR: 1.08 (0.40 - 2.95)).
In the CoLaus study of healthy adults, basal salivary cortisol was not associated with incident IR or T2DM.