Sweat cortisol response to stress, macronutrient consumption and birth control

A 21-subject pilot study was conducted in which apocrine and eccrine sweat was collected from healthy male (n = 7) and female (n = 14) individuals during aerobic exercise. Sweat from participants was analyzed using a blue tetrazolium reaction to determine cortisol concentration. The study revealed a significant difference between male and female apocrine cortisol concentration (p-value = 0.044), a highly significant difference between birth control (BC) using females and non-birth control using females (p-value = 0.015), as well as a highly significant difference between apocrine and eccrine cortisol concentration (p-value = 0.000044). A positive correlation between cortisol and Kessler 10 scores, protein, simple carbohydrates, fat, and calorie consumption in BC users, as well as a negative correlation between cortisol and simple carbohydrates, fat, and calorie consumption in non-BC users were found. This pilot study revealed a key association between diet and cortisol that may help individuals lower their normal cortisol levels and therefore prevent stress related illnesses.