TLDR Hair cortisol concentration partly reflects HPA axis regulation but doesn't capture all its complexities.
This study investigates whether hair cortisol concentration (HCC) can reflect the regulatory biology of the HPA axis in healthy humans. The research involved healthy participants who provided hair samples over a 1-month period and underwent various HPA regulatory assessments. The study found that 23% of the variance in HCC could be predicted by factors such as feedback inhibition (8.7%), adrenal sensitivity (8%), and stress reactivity. The findings suggest that while HCC is a useful indicator of stress-related health outcomes, it does not fully capture the complex regulatory changes of the HPA axis. The study highlights the need for further research to understand the mechanistic pathways that shape HCC and its relevance to stress and health.
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