Serum and Hair Steroid Profiles and Their Associations with Body Composition in Adolescence

November 2025 in “ Open Access CRIS of the University of Bern ”

Liimatta, Jani, Huotari, Johanna, du Toit Therina, Fluck Christa E, Jääskeläinen, Jarmo, Hackney, Anthony C., Häkkinen, Merja R, Lehtonen Marko, Auriola Seppo, Lakka, Timo A., Voutilainen, Raimo

steroid hormone profiles pregnenolone cortisone cortisol androgens peripheral metabolism androgen levels hair steroid profiling serum analysis systemic hormone levels metabolic activity

TLDR Androgen levels are more linked to body size in boys than girls.

This study compared serum and hair steroid hormone profiles in 241 adolescents (104 girls, 137 boys) from the PANIC study in Finland, focusing on their associations with body size and composition. Hair samples provided a non-invasive method to detect a wide range of steroids, including pregnenolone, cortisone, cortisol, and various androgens, indicating active peripheral metabolism. The study found that androgen levels in both serum and hair were more strongly correlated with body size and composition in boys than in girls, suggesting sex-specific metabolic regulation. Hair steroid profiling shows promise as a non-invasive alternative to serum analysis for assessing systemic hormone levels and localized metabolic activity, but further validation is needed before clinical adoption.

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