Table 6 Cortisol levels of the treatment groups (ng/ml)

W1

20–28

(24 ± 2)^b

390–430

(413 ± 12)^{b, A}

380–430

(410 ± 15)^{b, A}

390–418

(377 ± 34)^{b, A}

312–500

(421 ± 56)^{a, A}

W2

22–25

(23 ± 2)^b

320–460

(398 ± 41)^{a, B}

17–20

(18.5 ± 0.9)^{b, B}

15–30

(24 ± 5)^{b, B}

15–18

(16 ± 0.9)^{b, B}

W3

20–26

(24 ± 1)^b

280–410

(360 ± 40)^{a, B}

16–27

(21 ± 3)^{b, B}

15–23

(20 ± 3)^{b, B}

14–17

(15 ± 1)^{b, B}

W4

20–25

(23 ± 1)^b

180–290

(240 ± 32)^{a, B}

14–28

(23 ± 4)^{b, B}

13–27

(19 ± 4)^{b, B}

12–15

(14 ± 0.9)^{b, B}

P-value

0.024

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001