Cortisol

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Chinese Medicine Research Hub

Randomised Controlled Trial

Pomegranate extract consumption improves antioxidant levels, reduces oxidative stress and cardiovascular risk factors including blood pressure and body fat, and increases lean body mass.

2022 Antioxidants Antioxidant Properties and Beneficial Cardiovascular Effects of a Natural Extract of Pomegranate in Healthy Volunteers: A Randomized Preliminary Single-Blind Controlled Study
Al-Dujaili EAS, Casey C, Stockton A

Chinese Medicine Research Hub

Experimental Study

Coconut water and coconut milk ameliorate the negative impacts of heat stress on gastrointestinal health by reducing oxidative stress and suppressing inflammatory responses.

2022 Journal of Food Biochemistry Effect of coconut water and milk on heat stress‐induced gastrointestinal tract dysmotility in rats: Role of oxidative stress and inflammatory response
Ajeigbe KO, Oladokun OO, Owonikoko MW, Adegoke GA

Chinese Medicine Research Hub

Systematic Review

Acupuncture may have a positive effect on anxiety relief during IVF treatment, while its effect on depression relief is inconclusive.

2021 European Journal of Integrative Medicine Effects of acupuncture on the relief of anxiety and/or depression during in vitro fertilization: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Ye JY, He YJ, Zhan MJ, Qu F

Chinese Medicine Research Hub

Experimental Study

Ginger honey supplementation does not reduce cortisol levels, however, it significantly increases glutathione and estrogen levels in test mice.

2021 Gaceta Sanitaria Ginger honey affects cortisol, estrogen and glutathione levels; preliminary study to target preconceptional women
Usman AN, Raya I, Yasmin R, Aliyah , Dirpan A, Arsyad A, Permatasari AE, Sumidarti A, Umami N, Emmasitah

Chinese Medicine Research Hub

Randomised Controlled Trial

Walnut consumption coupled with concurrent training improves lipid profile, steroid hormone levels, and systematic inflammation in elderly men.

2021 Biology of Sport Moderate walnut consumption improved lipid profile, steroid hormones and inflammation in trained elderly men: a pilot study with a randomized controlled trial
Kamoun A, Hammouda O, Turki M, Maaloul R, Chtourou M, Bouaziz M, Driss T, Souissi N, Chamari K, Ayadi F

Chinese Medicine Research Hub

Randomised Controlled Trial

Intranasal application of essential oils such as lavender and fennel (Pinetonina™) significantly lowers cortisol levels and improves sleep quality.

2020 European Journal of Integrative Medicine Intranasal use of lavender and fennel decreases salivary cortisol levels and improves quality of sleep: A double-blind randomized clinical trial
Polonini H, Mesquita D, Lanine J, Dijkers E, Gkinis S, Raposo NRB, Brandão MAF, Ferreira AO

Chinese Medicine Research Hub

Randomised Controlled Trial

Pomegranate extract intake, rich in biophenols, lessens salivary cortisol levels, hence potentially improving health-related quality of life, particularly in stress-suffering individuals.

2014 Endocrine Abstracts Biophenols-rich pomegranate extract intake inhibits salivary cortisol and 11[beta]-HSD1 activity and improves overall quality of life scores in healthy volunteers
Stockton A, Al-Dujaili E

Executive Summary

Write an executive summary in the form of a blog article on the topic of "Research into Chinese medicine treatment for Cortisol" summarising the research below and using language that can be easily understood by patients and avoiding medical jargon using a professional and caring tone of voice.

Write an executive summary in the form of a blog article on the topic of "Researched Chinese medicine treatments for Cortisol" summarising the research below in an objective and easy to understand way, and using language that can be easily understood by patients. Group the article into Chinese medicine treatments first, followed by nutrition and other treatments. Avoid using medical jargon and use a professional and caring tone of voice.

Write me a concise but easy to understand executive summary on the topic of "Chinese medicine treatments for Cortisol" based on the following research that I will give you. Your summary should be 2 paragraphs long in Australian English spelling and include references to the studies.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2022 in the journal Antioxidants found that Pomegranate extract consumption improves antioxidant levels, reduces oxidative stress and cardiovascular risk factors including blood pressure and body fat, and increases lean body mass. In the study, 24 healthy participants were divided into two groups: one consumed a natural standardized pomegranate extract, while the other, a placebo, in a randomized, single-blind placebo-controlled trial. Evaluations were conducted at baseline and post 14 and 28 days of the experiment, with variables including anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, pulse wave speed, body composition, as well as the levels of salivary and urinary cortisol, cortisone, total phenolics, antioxidant capacity, and lipid peroxidation. The results indicated significant increases in urinary total phenolics excretion and antioxidant capacity after 14 and 28 days of pomegranate extract intake. By day 28, notable decreases were noted in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, body fat and fat mass, and an increase in lean body mass. In terms of glucocorticoid levels, there was a marked decrease in saliva cortisol at day 28 in the morning for the pomegranate extract group, along with a decrease in the cortisol/cortisone ratio following 28 days of pomegranate extract intake at morning, noon, and evening. Reductions were also seen in urine free cortisol levels by day 14. These observations were unique to the pomegranate extract group, with no significant changes noted in the placebo group.

A Experimental Study published in 2022 in the journal Journal of Food Biochemistry found that Coconut water and coconut milk ameliorate the negative impacts of heat stress on gastrointestinal health by reducing oxidative stress and suppressing inflammatory responses. The study enlisted four different temperature exposure groups of rats, namely a control group at 30 degrees Celsius, a heat-stressed group exposed to an ambiance of 40 degrees, a heat-stressed group pre-treated with coconut water, and a heat-stressed group with coconut milk. Measurements such as skin and rectal temperatures, as well as evaluations of gastrointestinal motility factors such as intestinal transit, intestinal fluid accumulation, and colonic motility, were taken before and after a two-hour heat exposure over 14 days. Noticeable increases in gastrointestinal motility factors were observed amongst the heat-stressed rats. However, the introduction of coconut milk and water appeared to reverse these increases. Furthermore, the elevated cortisol levels and intestinal lipid peroxidation in the heat-stressed rats were significantly reduced with the introduction of both coconut products. Likewise, results showed an increase in antioxidant enzyme activities in the rats that received either coconut water or milk, in contrast to the control group. Similarly, the coconut water and milk were seen to suppress inflammatory cytokines while enhancing others. The study also noted significant improvements in intestinal morphology among heat-stressed rats treated with either coconut product.

A Systematic Review published in 2021 in the journal European Journal of Integrative Medicine found that Acupuncture may have a positive effect on anxiety relief during IVF treatment, while its effect on depression relief is inconclusive. Twelve studies with 2867 participants were included. A significant difference was observed for the relief of anxiety comparing acupuncture with controls during IVF treatment. No significant difference was found for clinical pregnancy rate. Only 2 out of 12 studies assessed remission of depression but there was no clear effect shown for acupuncture.

A Experimental Study published in 2021 in the journal Gaceta Sanitaria found that Ginger honey supplementation does not reduce cortisol levels, however, it significantly increases glutathione and estrogen levels in test mice. The methodology involved an in vivo pretest-posttest control group design study conducted on 2-3 month old female Balb/c mice, selected due to not having experienced conception. These mice were split into a negative control and an intervention group, the latter receiving 28mg/20g body weight of ginger honey for 14 days. Prior to the supplementation, the mice were subjected to swimming-induced stress. Cortisol, glutathione, and estrogen levels were assessed using the ELISA testing method. In the discussion of results, the findings indicated that 14 days of ginger honey supplementation did not significantly affect cortisol levels in the female mice. Contrastingly, a considerable boost was observed in both glutathione and estrogen levels. This suggests a potential role for ginger honey supplements as complementary therapies, though not for the management of cortisol-related stress.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2021 in the journal Biology of Sport found that Walnut consumption coupled with concurrent training improves lipid profile, steroid hormone levels, and systematic inflammation in elderly men. The study created two matched groups of fit elderly men and placed one on a diet inclusive of walnuts (15g/day for six weeks) alongside their concurrent (resistance and endurance) training. The other group did the concurrent training without the walnut-supplemented diet. The study then took fasting blood samples from the participants 48 hours before and after the intervention for biochemical assessments. The group consuming walnuts saw a significant improvement in their lipid profiles with increased high-density lipoprotein levels and decreased total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels. The walnut-eating participants also saw an increase in testosterone levels after the training, which was significantly higher than the group not consuming walnuts. Additionally, the walnut-consuming group experienced lowered cortisol levels and decreased C-reactive protein compared to the group not consuming walnuts. It is plausible the results could be attributed to the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids in walnuts.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2020 in the journal European Journal of Integrative Medicine found that Intranasal application of essential oils such as lavender and fennel (Pinetonina™) significantly lowers cortisol levels and improves sleep quality. The study included 45 participants divided into three groups: one group received a saline nasal spray (Group 1 CTRL), the second group received a 30% concentration of Pinetonina™ in a buffered vehicle as an intranasal spray (Group 2 P30), and the third group received a 50% concentration of the same (Group 3 P50). The sprays were used once daily before bedtime for three months. The study measured salivary cortisol levels both at the beginning and end of the trial and assessed subjects' quality of sleep, anxiety levels, perceived stress, and overall quality of life using self-reported questionnaires. The study found that the groups using the 30% and 50% Pinetonina™ solutions saw significant reductions in their cortisol levels after the three-month period. The subjects in the 50% Pinetonina™ group also reported a notable improvement in their quality of sleep. However, there were no significant differences among the groups' perceived stress levels and their overall quality of life. Nevertheless, the study concluded that nightly intranasal use of Pinetonina™ could effectively lower cortisol levels and enhance sleep quality.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2014 in the journal Endocrine Abstracts found that Pomegranate extract intake, rich in biophenols, lessens salivary cortisol levels, hence potentially improving health-related quality of life, particularly in stress-suffering individuals. The study was conducted using a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled parallel trial. Participants, ranging in age and body mass index, took either a pomegranate extract capsule or a placebo each day for a duration of 4 weeks. The extracted capsule, which contained a high concentration of biophenols, was consumed with water after a meal. In addition to tracking dietary practices and habits, health related Quality of Life was recorded before and after the study. To assess the effects, salivary cortisol and cortisone levels were measured at three distinct points in the day. In the results, there was a notable decrease in the salivary cortisol levels of participants who consumed these pomegranate extract capsules. Alongside this, the ratio of cortisol to cortisone was significantly minimized. The participants' physical and social functionality, pain levels, and overall well-being showed significant improvement during the study. Conversely, there was a slight increase in the salivary cortisol and ratio of cortisol to cortisone for participants who took the placebo.

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