Salivary cortisol

Salivary cortisol offers a non-invasive method for assessing active free cortisol levels, reflecting the metabolically active fraction of this crucial adrenal hormone. Cortisol plays a vital role in the body's stress response, glucose metabolism, immune function, and regulation of blood pressure. Saliva collection is particularly useful for evaluating diurnal (daytime) patterns, as cortisol levels naturally fluctuate throughout the day, typically peaking in the morning and declining into the evening. This method provides insights into the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity.