TLDR Women with PCOS have higher hair cortisol levels, which are linked to worse metabolic and inflammatory conditions.
The study investigated the activation of the adrenal axis in 44 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) aged 18-34 years by measuring hair cortisol levels and its impact on metabolic, inflammatory, and androgen parameters compared to 49 healthy women aged 19-35 years. Hair cortisol levels were significantly higher in PCOS patients (130 pg/mg) than in controls (63 pg/mg, p < 0.001). PCOS patients were further categorized based on hair cortisol levels into a normal group and a high group (above 128 pg/mg). In the high cortisol group, total serum testosterone (TT) and bioavailable testosterone (bioT) showed significant correlations with various metabolic and inflammatory markers (p < 0.05). The study concluded that high hair cortisol levels in PCOS patients indicate hyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and these elevated levels are associated with adverse metabolic and inflammatory profiles only in the PCOS group with high hair cortisol.
85 citations,
August 2018 in “Psychological Medicine” Women with PCOS are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, and stress.
1540 citations,
October 2008 in “Fertility and Sterility” The report concludes that PCOS is mainly a condition of excess male hormones and its definition may change as new information is discovered.
14 citations,
January 2018 in “Advances in Clinical Chemistry” The document concludes that hormonal biomarkers are key for diagnosing hyperandrogenemia in women and hypogonadism in men.
76 citations,
November 2009 in “Medical Clinics of North America” Hormones, especially androgens, play a key role in acne, which can be a symptom of systemic diseases like PCOS and may require targeted treatment.
222 citations,
January 2014 in “International journal of reproductive medicine” Insulin resistance and obesity are key factors in the development and worsening of polycystic ovary syndrome, and lifestyle changes are important for managing it.
September 2023 in “Research Square (Research Square)” Evening primrose oil significantly improves hormone levels and reduces BMI and cholesterol in women with PCOS.
18 citations,
July 2010 in “Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism” The document concludes that PCOS has a strong genetic component, but more research is needed to fully understand the specific genes involved.
