Urinary Steroid Metabolome Shows Adrenal, Gonadal, And Neuroactive Steroid Dysregulation In Adolescents With Depression

This study analyzed the urinary steroid metabolome of 75 adolescents with depressive symptoms and 75 healthy controls, revealing significant dysregulation in steroid excretion. Adolescents with depression showed elevated excretion rates of corticosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androgen, and certain progesterone and glucocorticoid metabolites, while estradiol excretion was lower compared to controls. The study identified the tetrahydrated urinary metabolite ratio of 11-deoxycorticosterone (TH-DOC) to corticosterone metabolites as a potential biomarker for distinguishing patients from controls, suggesting chronic stress and offering a possible tool for identifying at-risk individuals or guiding personalized therapies.