Serum and Hair Steroid Profiles and Their Associations with Body Composition in Adolescence
November 2025
in “
European Journal of Endocrinology
”
New to Hydrocortisone? There is a guide in the encyclopedia. Read the guide → Studysummary This study found that hair steroid profiling is a feasible, non-invasive alternative to serum analysis in adolescents, with androgen levels correlating more strongly with body size and composition in boys than girls.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
This study, involving 241 adolescents from the PANIC study in Kuopio, Finland, explored the use of hair steroid profiling as a non-invasive alternative to serum analysis for assessing steroid hormones. Hair samples effectively detected a wide range of steroids, providing insights into long-term hormone exposure and metabolism. The research found that androgen levels in hair correlated more strongly with body size and composition in boys than in girls. Significant sex differences in steroid profiles were observed, with boys showing higher androgen levels and girls higher progestagen levels. The study suggests that hair analysis could complement blood tests in clinical endocrinology, although further validation is needed across different developmental stages and disease contexts.
