Use the bar graph to answer the following question.

People who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) experience ongoing, debilitating fatigue. In one study, cortisol levels in the saliva during the first hour after waking were measured and compared between CFS patients and people without CFS (controls). The data is summarized in the graph. What can you infer from the data?
A) A disruption to thyroid hormone production likely results in decreased cortisol in the saliva.
B) Cortisol is lower in CFS patients because they were just woken up.
C) The normal elevation in adrenocorticotropic hormone level in waking people is reduced in CFS patients.
D) CFS patients are generally more relaxed as demonstrated by their decreased stress response.

Question

Use the bar graph to answer the following question.

People who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) experience ongoing, debilitating fatigue. In one study, cortisol levels in the saliva during the first hour after waking were measured and compared between CFS patients and people without CFS (controls). The data is summarized in the graph. What can you infer from the data?
A) A disruption to thyroid hormone production likely results in decreased cortisol in the saliva. 
B) Cortisol is lower in CFS patients because they were just woken up. 
C) The normal elevation in adrenocorticotropic hormone level in waking people is reduced in CFS patients. 
D) CFS patients are generally more relaxed as demonstrated by their decreased stress response.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The graph shows that cortisol levels in the saliva during the first hour after waking were significantly lower in CFS patients compared to controls. Cortisol is controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is regulated by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Therefore, the reduced cortisol levels in CFS patients suggest that there is a disruption to the normal elevation in ACTH levels in these patients. This could be due to dysregulation of the HPA axis, which is a common finding in CFS. The other answer choices are not supported by the data presented in the graph.

Use the Bar Graph to Answer the Following Question