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

TLDR Hair can effectively measure DHEA and testosterone levels in children.

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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