Kangaroo care also significantly decreases the amount of beta-endorphin (a stress indicator) in the blood. S. Mooncey et al. showed a 74% geometric mean decrease in plasma beta-endorphin after kangaroo care (cite!). Beta-endorphin is syntesized by the anterior pituitary gland along with ACTH which induces cortisol secretion as a response to physiological stress (medical physiology).

Another study showed that salivary cortisol (yet another stress indicator) levels were lower in infants who recieved kangaroo care.

Following almost any type of stress cortisol release is greatly increased by the adrenalcortex, thus it is a good stress indicator (medical physiolgoy)

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