During pregnancy, circulatory cortisol levels increase, remaining steady over the second-third trimester. In contrast, profile of salivary cortisol during pregnancy is debatable, more influenced by factors like time of sample collection in the day. Circulatory DHEA-S decrease by at least 50% over the second-third trimester of pregnancy. However, profile of salivary DHEA-S is unclear. Objective was to determine changes in salivary cortisol and DHEA-S in healthy pregnant women, compared to non-pregnant women during late morning-early afternoon sampling to avoid fluctuations associated with other times. Pregnant women in their second-third trimester prospectively (n=500) and non-pregnant women (n=133) were enrolled in study with informed consent. Live birth outcome with no pregnancy complications and≥2.5 Kg infant birth weight were included. Concentrations of salivary cortisol and DHEA-S were determined through ELISA assays. Compared to non-pregnant women, pregnant women demonstrated significant increases in salivary cortisol [median (interquartile range)=4.2 (5.1) nmol/l vs. 17.2 (13.9) nmol/l, p<0.001] and salivary DHEA-S median (interquartile range)=2.7 (2.9) nmol/l vs. 3.8 (3.2) nmol/l, p<0.001). Consistently, quartile scores representing higher levels of salivary cortisol and DHEA-S concentrations demonstrated significant association with pregnancy. Quartile scores representing higher salivary cortisol/DHEA-S ratio demonstrated significant association with pregnancy. Study suggests the indicated time range of saliva sampling might best parallel the established profile of circulatory cortisol in pregnant women. However, unlike cortisol, study indicates that the salivary DHEA-S profile is distinct from the well-known profile of circulatory DHEA-S during pregnancy. A combinatorial approach involving both salivary and circulatory compartments could provide comprehensive picture of DHEA-S and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis during pregnancy.

中文翻译：

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健康孕妇和非孕妇唾液皮质醇和唾液 DHEA-S 的比较分析

在怀孕期间，循环皮质醇水平会增加，并在孕中期保持稳定。相比之下，怀孕期间唾液皮质醇的分布是有争议的，更多地受一天中样本采集时间等因素的影响。在妊娠的中后期，循环 DHEA-S 至少减少 50%。然而，唾液 DHEA-S 的特征尚不清楚。目的是确定健康孕妇唾液皮质醇和 DHEA-S 的变化，与非孕妇相比，在上午晚些时候和下午早些时候取样，以避免与其他时间相关的波动。在知情同意的情况下，前瞻性地将处于妊娠中期的孕妇（n = 500）和非孕妇（n = 133）纳入研究。包括没有妊娠并发症和≥2.5 Kg 婴儿出生体重的活产结局。通过ELISA测定确定唾液皮质醇和DHEA-S的浓度。与非孕妇相比，孕妇的唾液皮质醇显着增加[中位数（四分位距）=4.2（5.1）nmol/l vs. 17.2（13.9）nmol/l，p<0.001] 和唾液 DHEA-S 中位数（四分位距）=2.7 (2.9) nmol/l 与 3.8 (3.2) nmol/l，p<0.001）。一致地，代表较高水平的唾液皮质醇和 DHEA-S 浓度的四分位数分数表明与怀孕显着相关。代表较高唾液皮质醇/DHEA-S 比率的四分位数分数表明与妊娠显着相关。研究表明，唾液采样的指示时间范围可能最好与孕妇循环皮质醇的既定分布相平行。然而，与皮质醇不同的是，研究表明，唾液 DHEA-S 分布与怀孕期间众所周知的循环 DHEA-S 分布不同。涉及唾液和循环隔室的组合方法可以提供怀孕期间 DHEA-S 和下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴的全面图像。