Methodological Challenges and Clinical Applications of Hair Cortisol Analysis

January 2012

Evan Russell

hair cortisol analysis cortisol obstructive sleep apnea OSA continuous positive airway pressure CPAP

Studysummary This study concluded that human sweat contributes to hair cortisol concentrations, potentially affecting interpretations of chronic stress and OSA-related stress levels, with CPAP reducing psychological but not physiological stress after 3 months.

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Research cited in this study

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research Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Improves Cardiometabolic Function in Young Obese Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

105 citations , February 2011 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism”

Treating sleep apnea in young obese women with PCOS can improve heart health and insulin sensitivity.

research Effects of Shampoo and Water Washing on Hair Cortisol Concentrations

122 citations , October 2010 in “Clinica Chimica Acta”

In this study, washing rhesus monkey hair with water or shampoo significantly reduced cortisol levels, suggesting potential underestimation of chronic stress hormone deposition in hair due to washing.

research Localization, Age- and Site-Dependent Expression, and Regulation of 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 in Skin

119 citations , August 2010 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This study reports that 11β-HSD1 activity in human skin increases with age and photoexposure, potentially contributing to skin aging and the effects of glucocorticoids.

research Hair Analysis Provides A Historical Record Of Cortisol Levels In Cushing's Syndrome

217 citations , July 2009 in “Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes”

This study found that hair cortisol levels were significantly higher in patients with Cushing's Syndrome compared to healthy controls, suggesting hair analysis can provide historical information on cortisol exposure.

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

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

501 citations , October 2008 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology”

This study suggests that cortisol measured in human hair can effectively reflect increased production for up to six months, but its retrospective accuracy may be limited due to rapid decline in levels.

research Measurement of Cortisol in Human Hair as a Biomarker of Systemic Exposure

567 citations , October 2007 in “Clinical and investigative medicine”

This study described a new assay for measuring cortisol in hair and found it may serve as a useful biomarker for long-term cortisol exposure, correlating with 24-hour urine cortisol levels in non-obese subjects.

research Diversity of Hair Growth Profiles

115 citations , September 2005 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

Different ethnic groups have unique hair growth patterns, with African hair growing slower and less dense, Asian hair growing fast but sparse, and Caucasian hair being densest; men are more likely to experience hair loss than women.

research Human Hair Follicles Display a Functional Equivalent of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis and Synthesize Cortisol

489 citations , June 2005 in “The FASEB Journal”

This study found that human scalp hair follicles can respond to corticotropin releasing hormone stimulation similarly to the classical HPA axis, including up-regulating cortisol production and activating neuroendocrine feedback loops.

research A Preliminary Study of Steroid Reproductive Hormones in Human Hair

89 citations , December 1998 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology”

This study found that steroid hormone levels in human hair correlate significantly with those in serum, suggesting hair may be a viable medium for assessing hormonal status.