Measurement of Cortisol, Dehydroepiandrosterone, and Testosterone in the Hair of Children: Preliminary Results and Promising Indications

November 2018 in “ Developmental Psychobiology ”

Jesse Smith, Katherine A. Johnson, Sarah Whittle, Nicholas B. Allen, Julian G. Simmons

cortisol dehydroepiandrosterone testosterone DHEA

From the encyclopedia

a synthetic cortisol used for anti-inflammatory effects

Studysummary In this study, testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone in children's hair were strongly correlated, supporting hair as a potential method for measuring these hormones.

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This study aimed to explore the relationships between hair-based hormone levels and physical development in children. It involved 114 children, with a mean age of 8.5 years, including 66 females. Researchers measured cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and testosterone in the hair's 0–3 cm section near the scalp. In a subset of 35 females, the 3–6 cm segment was also analyzed. Findings indicated a strong correlation between testosterone and DHEA, and a moderate correlation between testosterone and cortisol in the 0–3 cm section. Higher hormone concentrations were found in the 3–6 cm segment. Additionally, a weak positive association was observed between DHEA levels and height. These results suggested that hair could be a valid medium for measuring DHEA and testosterone, supporting the potential of hair analysis in understanding hormone-related developmental processes.

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Research cited in this study

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research Hair as a Retrospective Calendar of Cortisol Production—Increased Cortisol Incorporation into Hair in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy

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