(A) Conceptual illustration of the light/dark-cycle regulated cortisol circadian rhythm and the transport of circulating cortisol to sweat.
(B) Circadian rhythm of sweat cortisol constructed for a healthy subject in a period of 6 days. Sweat was sampled and analyzed in the morning (AM) and in the afternoon (PM) each day. (C-F) Cortisol levels found in serum, saliva and sweat sampled in the AM and in the PM from four healthy subjects.
(G) Correlation of serum cortisol to sweat cortisol. The correlation coefficient r was acquired through Pearson’s correlation analysis (eight subjects, n = 4 for each subject, p < 0.001).
(H) Correlation of salivary cortisol to sweat cortisol. The correlation coefficient r was acquired through Pearson’s correlation analysis (eight subjects, n = 4 for each subject, p < 0.001).