Longitudinal Association Between Saliva and Hair Cortisol Concentration: A Systematic Comparison

July 2023 in “ Psychoneuroendocrinology ”

Claudio Singh Solorzano, Bianca Serwinski, Caterina Grano, Andrew Steptoe

cortisol hair cortisol concentration saliva cortisol concentration HCC cortisol secretion DAYauc CARauc hair cortisol saliva cortisol

Studysummary This study found that hair cortisol concentration is consistently associated with salivary cortisol output throughout the day, making it a potential reliable biomarker of long-term cortisol secretion.

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The study aimed to compare the cortisol levels in saliva and hair to understand their correlation. The study involved 54 healthy female second-year students and lasted seven weeks. Saliva samples were taken at three different weeks (6, 4, and 2 weeks prior) to hair cortisol sampling. The study found consistent associations between hair cortisol concentration (HCC) and cortisol secretion over the rest of the day (DAYauc) collected two weeks, four weeks, and six weeks before hair sampling. However, there was no significant association between HCC and total post-awakening cortisol secretion (CARauc). The study concluded that hair cortisol concentration is a reliable indicator of long-term cortisol output, reflecting cortisol secretion throughout the day, but not immediately after waking.

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Research cited in this study

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research Correlation of Cortisol in 1-Cm Hair Segment with Salivary Cortisol in Humans: Hair Cortisol as an Endogenous Biomarker

80 citations , January 2011 in “Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM)”

This study confirmed that the diffusion of cortisol from blood is a biologically endogenous source of hair cortisol, correlating significantly with salivary cortisol levels in healthy humans.

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.