Monitoring of Cortisone and Cortisol Levels in Hair During Pregnancy

    September 2024 in “ Toxicology Letters ”
    Elena Vakonaki, Manolis Tzatzarakis, M. Marmara, M.T. Vitiadou, Dimitra I. Nikolopoulou, A.A. Vakonaki, Stella Baliou, T. Lamprakis, Vasiliki Karzi, Valia Marou, N.H. Anagnostatou, E. Moutsaki, Eleftheria Hatzidaki, Aristidis Tsatsakis
    TLDR Cortisone and cortisol levels in pregnant women’s hair increase as labor approaches, indicating higher stress.
    The study monitored cortisone and cortisol levels in hair samples from 49 mothers during pregnancy, revealing an increase in both hormones and their detection frequencies as labor approached. Cortisol levels rose from 7.2 pg/mg in the first trimester to 11.0 pg/mg in the third trimester, while cortisone levels increased from 11.2 pg/mg to 16.1 pg/mg over the same period. These findings suggest heightened maternal stress closer to labor.
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