Cortisone is a steroid glucocorticoid metabolite formed when active cortisol is converted by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzymes. Biochemically it is a downstream, less receptor-active form of cortisol that circulates and appears in saliva, urine, and blood. Clinically, cortisone is used as a proxy for cortisol metabolism and enzyme activity rather than as a primary signaling hormone. Historically, measuring cortisol and its metabolites has helped researchers map the body’s stress-response rhythm and clarify how enzymes and clearance affect active hormone exposure. Evening sampling targets the nocturnal phase of the diurnal cortisol curve, offering specific information about how the HPA axis winds down and how efficiently cortisol is being converted and removed at night.

Elevated evening salivary cortisone can reflect a reduced day-to-night fall in cortisol signaling, prolonged adrenal activation, or altered conversion/clearance (for example, shifts in 11β-HSD activity). Such a pattern may correlate with persistent physiologic stress signaling or impaired evening recovery, though interpretation depends on timing and other measures. Low evening cortisone may indicate a pronounced evening decline in cortisol exposure, lower adrenal output late in the day, or assay/timing effects. Because single values can be influenced by collection time, medications, or enzyme differences, results are best interpreted alongside morning cortisol, the Cortisol Awakening Response, urinary metabolites, and clinical context.

Including evening saliva cortisone in the Hormone Zoomer evaluates nocturnal glucocorticoid exposure and metabolic clearance at a time when cortisol should normally be low. This marker complements morning and daytime saliva samples plus urinary metabolites to reveal rhythm disruptions and enzyme-related patterns, supporting more precise, individualized interpretation and management planning.