Applications of Hair as a Record of Systemic Exposure to Cortisol
January 2019
New to Hydrocortisone? There is a guide in the encyclopedia. Read the guide → Studysummary This study found that a hair growth rate of 0.75 cm/month better matches retrospective cortisol timelines and identified factors influencing hair cortisol content in children and adolescents.
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The study explored hair cortisol content (HCC) as a biomarker for systemic cortisol exposure, focusing on hair growth rates in Cushing’s and Addison’s patients, and the relationship between HCC and factors like age, puberty, sex, and BMI in healthy children and adolescents. It found that a 0.75 cm/month hair growth rate better matched 50% of patients' medical records compared to the assumed 1 cm/month rate. HCC was positively correlated with age, puberty status, and BMI in children aged 7-17. Additionally, nitrogen evaporation improved cortisol recovery over air evaporation, and using NaOH for hair digestion expedited cortisol extraction. These findings enhanced methods for HCC analysis and clarified normal HCC variations in youth.