Salivary cortisol, cortisone and serum cortisol concentrations are related to age and body mass index in healthy children and young people.

Salivary cortisol and cortisone concentrations are strongly related to serum cortisol concentrations; however, cortisone may be a preferable measure as cortisol is often undetectable. Age may be an important factor in the interpretation of early morning cortisol measurements made in serum and saliva.