Component

Cortisol

Independent small molecule record; interpretation is limited by each linked claim and its study context.

5 recorded relationships. Experimental role, claim status and evidence remain attached to each record.

Read recorded mechanisms Open recursive mind map

How nutrients influence it

Every nutrient with a recorded effect on this component, credited to the nutrient that acted rather than the chapter that recorded it. Open a nutrient to see the findings and the conditions they were measured under.

How nutrients reach it in more than one step

Chains of two or more recorded steps that end here, grouped by the nutrient they start from. Each step is a separate finding, so a chain is a route a mechanism could take, not proof that it does.

Tracing routes…

What it does

Every recorded relationship this component is part of, grouped by its role. Plain wording comes first; the technical statement follows.

Recorded relationships

What acts on it

  1. In the Syrian trial, lysine fortification reduced the cortisol response associated with blood drawing in females, without the same effect in males.

    L-Lysine → Cortisol source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    availability_state
    nutrient_deficiency Imported condition classification; unverified.
    experimental_model
    Randomized household fortification trial
    limitations
    Prestress baseline cortisol was not measured; not evidence of universal cortisol lowering.
    organism
    Homo sapiens
    plain_language
    The measured response to a specific stressor differed by sex.
    primary_references
    [smriga2004] Lysine fortification reduces anxiety and lessens stress in family members in economically weak communities in Northwest Syria (2004). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC420386/ DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0402550101
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Blood cortisol under venipuncture stress
    trigger_kind
    nutrient_deficiency Imported condition classification; unverified.

    L-Lysine: mechanism-first literature curation (2026-09-17) · lines 699–707

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Randomized household fortification trial · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### syria-stress-cortisol In the Syrian trial, lysine fortification reduced the cortisol response associated with blood drawing in females, without the same effect in males. Plain language: The measured response to a specific stressor differed by sex. Condition category: nutrient_deficiency organism: Homo sapiens tissue_or_cell_type: Blood cortisol under venipuncture stress experimental_model: Randomized household fortification trial limitations: Prestress baseline cortisol was not measured; not evidence of universal cortisol lowering. [smriga2004] Lysine fortification reduces anxiety and lessens stress in family members in economically weak communities in Northwest Syria (2004). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC420386/ DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0402550101
    Complete structured claim and evidence

Where it participates (unsigned role)

  1. Negative affect was lower 180 minutes after a single 15-minute immersion at 10 degrees C while positive affect did not change, and cortisol was lower at 180 minutes, whereas serum beta-endorphins did not change throughout the trial.

    Cold water immersion → Self-reported negative affect source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    evidence_span
    {"source_cache": "artifacts/cold-research/37866096.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "2180ef37d9e3dda6b7785769dcc2e4deb89b07a12ffed469e52c80af563cff54", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 1665, "text_sha256": "2180ef37d9e3dda6b7785769dcc2e4deb89b07a12ffed469e52c80af563cff54"}
    experimental_model
    Sixteen healthy adults completing one 15-minute immersion at 10 degrees C with Doppler ultrasound and blood sampling
    exposure
    One 15-minute immersion at 10 degrees C
    limitations
    A small single-bout study. Beta-endorphin did not change, which bears on the common attribution of the mood effect to endorphins.
    nutrient_topic
    Cold water immersion research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and a therapeutic exposure is not a dietary intake. · Cold water immersion
    organism
    Human
    plain_language
    Three hours after one plunge people felt less bad, though not better, and the endorphin explanation did not hold up.
    primary_references
    [cold-p37866096] Cardiovascular and mood responses to an acute bout of cold water immersion. (2023). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37866096/ DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103727
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Brachial artery and mood

    Cold water immersion: cold sensing, heat production, the catecholamine axis and what repeated exposure changes (2026-09-19) · lines 741–752

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Sixteen healthy adults completing one 15-minute immersion at 10 degrees C with Doppler ultrasound and blood sampling · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### cold-acute-negative-affect Negative affect was lower 180 minutes after a single 15-minute immersion at 10 degrees C while positive affect did not change, and cortisol was lower at 180 minutes, whereas serum beta-endorphins did not change throughout the trial. Condition category: normal nutrient_topic: Cold water immersion research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and a therapeutic exposure is not a dietary intake. plain_language: Three hours after one plunge people felt less bad, though not better, and the endorphin explanation did not hold up. organism: Human tissue_or_cell_type: Brachial artery and mood experimental_model: Sixteen healthy adults completing one 15-minute immersion at 10 degrees C with Doppler ultrasound and blood sampling limitations: A small single-bout study. Beta-endorphin did not change, which bears on the common attribution of the mood effect to endorphins. exposure: One 15-minute immersion at 10 degrees C evidence_span: {"source_cache": "artifacts/cold-research/37866096.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "2180ef37d9e3dda6b7785769dcc2e4deb89b07a12ffed469e52c80af563cff54", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 1665, "text_sha256": "2180ef37d9e3dda6b7785769dcc2e4deb89b07a12ffed469e52c80af563cff54"} [cold-p37866096] Cardiovascular and mood responses to an acute bout of cold water immersion. (2023). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37866096/ DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103727
    Complete structured claim and evidence

  2. Plasma noradrenaline and dopamine concentrations increased by 530% and 250% at 14 degrees C, while plasma adrenaline concentrations remained unchanged and cortisol tended to decrease.

    Cold water immersion → Plasma noradrenaline concentration source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    evidence_span
    {"source_cache": "artifacts/cold-research/10751106.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "d018fda7c67dc61bb0d4a38ddfd7850e7252897587c5a4477607271b10d42291", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 2332, "text_sha256": "d018fda7c67dc61bb0d4a38ddfd7850e7252897587c5a4477607271b10d42291"}
    experimental_model
    Young men during 1-hour head-out immersions at 32, 20 and 14 degrees C
    exposure
    One hour head-out immersion at three water temperatures
    limitations
    The thermoneutral arm separates hydrostatic pressure from cold. Cortisol did not rise at any temperature, which bears directly on calling immersion a stress response.
    nutrient_topic
    Cold water immersion research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and a therapeutic exposure is not a dietary intake. · Cold water immersion
    organism
    Human
    plain_language
    Cold water multiplies one messenger sixfold and leaves adrenaline and cortisol alone.
    primary_references
    [cold-p10751106] Human physiological responses to immersion into water of different temperatures. (2000). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10751106/ DOI: 10.1007/s004210050065
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Whole body

    Cold water immersion: cold sensing, heat production, the catecholamine axis and what repeated exposure changes (2026-09-19) · lines 195–206

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Young men during 1-hour head-out immersions at 32, 20 and 14 degrees C · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### cold-cold-noradrenaline-rise Plasma noradrenaline and dopamine concentrations increased by 530% and 250% at 14 degrees C, while plasma adrenaline concentrations remained unchanged and cortisol tended to decrease. Condition category: normal nutrient_topic: Cold water immersion research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and a therapeutic exposure is not a dietary intake. plain_language: Cold water multiplies one messenger sixfold and leaves adrenaline and cortisol alone. organism: Human tissue_or_cell_type: Whole body experimental_model: Young men during 1-hour head-out immersions at 32, 20 and 14 degrees C limitations: The thermoneutral arm separates hydrostatic pressure from cold. Cortisol did not rise at any temperature, which bears directly on calling immersion a stress response. exposure: One hour head-out immersion at three water temperatures evidence_span: {"source_cache": "artifacts/cold-research/10751106.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "d018fda7c67dc61bb0d4a38ddfd7850e7252897587c5a4477607271b10d42291", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 2332, "text_sha256": "d018fda7c67dc61bb0d4a38ddfd7850e7252897587c5a4477607271b10d42291"} [cold-p10751106] Human physiological responses to immersion into water of different temperatures. (2000). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10751106/ DOI: 10.1007/s004210050065
    Complete structured claim and evidence

  3. Immersion at thermoneutral 32 degrees C did not change rectal temperature or metabolic rate but lowered heart rate by 15% and blood pressure by 11 to 12%, lowered plasma renin activity by 46%, cortisol by 34% and aldosterone by 17%, and increased diuresis by 107%.

    Hydrostatic pressure of head-out water immersion, separate from its temperature → Urine output / diuresis source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    evidence_span
    {"source_cache": "artifacts/cold-research/10751106.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "d018fda7c67dc61bb0d4a38ddfd7850e7252897587c5a4477607271b10d42291", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 2332, "text_sha256": "d018fda7c67dc61bb0d4a38ddfd7850e7252897587c5a4477607271b10d42291"}
    experimental_model
    Young men during 1-hour head-out immersions at 32, 20 and 14 degrees C
    exposure
    One hour head-out immersion at three water temperatures
    limitations
    The thermoneutral arm separates hydrostatic pressure from cold. Cortisol did not rise at any temperature, which bears directly on calling immersion a stress response.
    nutrient_topic
    Cold water immersion research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and a therapeutic exposure is not a dietary intake. · Cold water immersion
    organism
    Human
    plain_language
    Simply being in water, at any temperature, drops blood pressure and makes you urinate.
    primary_references
    [cold-p10751106] Human physiological responses to immersion into water of different temperatures. (2000). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10751106/ DOI: 10.1007/s004210050065
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Whole body

    Cold water immersion: cold sensing, heat production, the catecholamine axis and what repeated exposure changes (2026-09-19) · lines 169–180

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Young men during 1-hour head-out immersions at 32, 20 and 14 degrees C · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### cold-pressure-versus-cold Immersion at thermoneutral 32 degrees C did not change rectal temperature or metabolic rate but lowered heart rate by 15% and blood pressure by 11 to 12%, lowered plasma renin activity by 46%, cortisol by 34% and aldosterone by 17%, and increased diuresis by 107%. Condition category: normal nutrient_topic: Cold water immersion research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and a therapeutic exposure is not a dietary intake. plain_language: Simply being in water, at any temperature, drops blood pressure and makes you urinate. organism: Human tissue_or_cell_type: Whole body experimental_model: Young men during 1-hour head-out immersions at 32, 20 and 14 degrees C limitations: The thermoneutral arm separates hydrostatic pressure from cold. Cortisol did not rise at any temperature, which bears directly on calling immersion a stress response. exposure: One hour head-out immersion at three water temperatures evidence_span: {"source_cache": "artifacts/cold-research/10751106.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "d018fda7c67dc61bb0d4a38ddfd7850e7252897587c5a4477607271b10d42291", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 2332, "text_sha256": "d018fda7c67dc61bb0d4a38ddfd7850e7252897587c5a4477607271b10d42291"} [cold-p10751106] Human physiological responses to immersion into water of different temperatures. (2000). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10751106/ DOI: 10.1007/s004210050065
    Complete structured claim and evidence

  4. In 29 high-trait-anxiety participants, lysine plus arginine increased stress-evoked ACTH, cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline responses without changing heart-rate or blood-pressure responses.

    L-Lysine → Neuroendocrine stress response source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    experimental_model
    Ten-day randomized trial; 3 g/day of each amino acid, followed by public-speaking stress
    limitations
    Small combination trial; authors' proposed normalization is an interpretation, not a proven lysine-specific mechanism.
    organism
    Homo sapiens
    plain_language
    The mixture did not simply suppress all stress hormones.
    primary_references
    [jezova2005] Subchronic treatment with amino acid mixture of L-lysine and L-arginine modifies neuroendocrine activation during psychosocial stress in subjects with high trait anxiety (2005). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16117182/ DOI: 10.1080/10284150500162937
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Blood stress hormones and cardiovascular measurements

    L-Lysine: mechanism-first literature curation (2026-09-17) · lines 739–747

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Ten-day randomized trial; 3 g/day of each amino acid, followed by public-speaking stress · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### lysine-arginine-stress-hormones In 29 high-trait-anxiety participants, lysine plus arginine increased stress-evoked ACTH, cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline responses without changing heart-rate or blood-pressure responses. Plain language: The mixture did not simply suppress all stress hormones. Condition category: normal organism: Homo sapiens tissue_or_cell_type: Blood stress hormones and cardiovascular measurements experimental_model: Ten-day randomized trial; 3 g/day of each amino acid, followed by public-speaking stress limitations: Small combination trial; authors' proposed normalization is an interpretation, not a proven lysine-specific mechanism. [jezova2005] Subchronic treatment with amino acid mixture of L-lysine and L-arginine modifies neuroendocrine activation during psychosocial stress in subjects with high trait anxiety (2005). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16117182/ DOI: 10.1080/10284150500162937
    Complete structured claim and evidence

In the sources

Preserved passages that mention this component, quoted exactly. Open one to read it in context.

    This is a research prototype built from draft material. It is not medical advice, and its statements still await verification against the original studies.

    Evidence, AI assistance and curation standards