Table 1. Clinical and biochemical tests assessed or collected immediately before each intervention and at 7 AM on the second intervention day during both interventions (n = 10).

		9 AM before start of intervention (first intervention day)		7 AM (second intervention day)
		Median (IQR)	p-Value	Median (IQR)	p-Value
S-cortisol (nmol/L)	HC	43.2 (38.0–55.1)	0.36	298 (228–359)	<0.001
	Saline	46.7 (43.1–61.7)		44.4 (36.8–52.5)
Overnight U-free cortisol (µg/7 hr)*,†	HC	–		678 (459–814)	<0.001
	Saline	–		<0.01‡
S-cortisone (nmol/L)	HC	40.7 (29.5–49.2)	0.76	81.2 (60.5–94.9)	<0.001
	Saline	42.1 (29.7–50.4)		42.0 (28.9–47.3)
Overnight U-free cortisone (µg/7 hr)*,†	HC	–		136 (106–151)	<0.001
	Saline	–		<0.01‡
SBP (mmHg)	HC	122 (111–134)	0.88	123 (107–139)	0.65
	Saline	127 (112–131)		124 (101–137)
DBP (mmHg)	HC	76 (63–83)	0.88	69 (59–76)	0.55
	Saline	72 (67–80)		65 (60–70)
S-sodium (mmol/L)	HC	141 (139–142)	0.85	140 (138–141)	0.97
	Saline	141 (138–142)		140 (138–141)
S-potassium (mmol/L)	HC	4.4 (4.3–4.7)	0.27	4.4 (4.3–4.8)	0.26
	Saline	4.2 (4.0–4.5)		4.4 (4.3–4.5)
P-glucose (mmol/L)	HC	5.0 (4.5–5.3)	0.79	5.6 (5.2–5.8)	0.08
	Saline	5.0 (4.6–5.1)		5.2 (5.2–5.4)
Body weight (kg)	HC	72.2 (69.6–77.3)	0.53	72.8 (69.3–77.7)	0.63
	Saline	73.5 (70.5–79.5)		74.0 (70.5–79.2)

*Overnight U-free cortisol and cortisone were collected from midnight to morning (12 AM to 7 AM) during physiological GC exposure (HC infusion) and GC withdrawal (saline infusion).

^†One of the 10 subjects was not included in the analysis because of a problem during sample collection.

^‡Below the limit of detection.

DBP: diastolic blood pressure; GC: glucocorticoid; HC: hydrocortisone; IQR: interquartile range; P: plasma; S: serum; SBP: systolic blood pressure; U: urinary.