Simultaneous LC-MS/MS Quantification of Glucocorticoids, Melatonin, and Its Metabolites in Hair
April 2022
in “
Journal of Chromatography B
”
TLDR The new method can measure sleep-related hormones in hair effectively and could help track long-term sleep patterns.
The study developed a method for simultaneously quantifying melatonin (MEL), N-acetyl-serotonin (NAS), 6-hydroxymelatonin (6-O-MEL), cortisone, and cortisol in human hair using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). This method is safer, more sample-saving, and simpler than previous methods. The study demonstrated the applicability of this method by analyzing hair samples from 65 undergraduates. The study suggests that these hormones and their metabolites, which exhibit circadian rhythm, could potentially be used as biomarkers for long-term sleep state. The method showed high sensitivity with the limit of quantification at 0.1 pg/mg for MEL, 0.4 pg/mg for NAS, 1.0 pg/mg for 6-O-MEL, 1.0 pg/mg for cortisone, and 0.5 pg/mg for cortisol.
