Comparison of Hair Cortisol Levels and Perceived Stress in Mothers Who Deliver at Preterm and Term

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 292-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allyson R. Duffy ◽  
Donna L. Schminkey ◽  
Maureen W. Groer ◽  
Melissa Shelton ◽  
Samia Dutra
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Allostatic Load ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Hair Cortisol ◽  
Third Trimester ◽  
Hair Samples ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Cortisol Levels

Objective: To evaluate relationships between hair cortisol levels and perceived stress in mothers who deliver preterm and term. We hypothesized that the rate of change in cortisol levels would be greater in the preterm delivery group. Methods: This preliminary study compared hair cortisol levels and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) scores in predominately Caucasian mothers who delivered preterm ( n = 22) and term ( n = 30). We collected PSS and hair samples of ≥10 cm in length from mothers after delivery. Hair was segmented into three sections, and cortisol was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The mean gestational age was 31.45 ( SD = 4.2) weeks for preterm deliveries and 39.45 ( SD = 1.1) for term. Cortisol differed significantly in the third trimester between mothers delivering term and preterm ( t = 2.16, df = 48, p = .04) and trended toward significance in the second trimester ( t = 1.88, df = 48, p = .06). PSS differed significantly between the two groups ( t = −2.96, df = 50, p = .05). Our data did not provide support for our hypothesis. Conclusion: There appeared to be a blunted, flattened pattern of change in cortisol levels across gestation in the women who delivered preterm, suggesting diminished hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis responsiveness in mechanisms that promote preterm labor. Future studies are needed to further evaluate best strategies for measuring the mechanisms of allostatic load during pregnancy along with the psychoneuroendocrine and immune triggers and placental responses that lead to premature birth.

Cultural and socio-economic conditions as factors contributing to chronic stress in sub-Saharan African communities

2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (9) ◽  
pp. 725-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phaedra Henley ◽  
Megan Lowthers ◽  
Gideon Koren ◽  
Pamela Tsimbiri Fedha ◽  
Evan Russell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Stress ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Hair Cortisol ◽  
Hair Samples ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Slum Settlements

Stress is known to contribute to overall health status. Many individuals in sub-Saharan Africa are believed to be stressed about their employment, income, and health. This study aimed to investigate hair cortisol as a biomarker of chronic stress in settlement communities in Kenya. Hair samples were collected from 108 volunteers from settlement communities in Kenya. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique was used to measure hair cortisol concentrations. In parallel, a health survey was completed. The mean ± SD for the cortisol concentration in the hair of volunteers from the settlement communities in Naivasha was 639 ± 300 ng/g, which was higher than found for a Caucasian reference group (299 ± 110 ng/g; one-way ANOVA, P = 0.0003). There were no differences in hair cortisol concentrations between members of slum settlements adjacent to large floriculture farms in Naivasha (Karagita, Kamere/Kwa Muhia/DCK, and Kasarani) compared with those well-removed from all floriculture in Mogotio (Mogotio and Westlands/Katorongot). However, hair cortisol concentrations were significantly higher in females, divorced volunteers, those who made below minimum wage, and those who reported feeling unsafe collecting water or using sanitation facilities within these 2 settlement groups. We found no evidence for increased chronic stress (measured by hair cortisol content) between members of slum settlements adjacent to versus distant to large floriculture farms. Cultural and socio-economic conditions that prevail in much of sub-Saharan Africa were found to be factors contributing to chronic stress.

scholarly journals The relationship between stress and hair cortisol in healthy pregnant women

2007 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjog Kalra ◽  
Adrienne Einarson ◽  
Tatyana Karaskov ◽  
Stan Van Uum ◽  
Gideon Koren
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Biological Marker ◽  
Hair Cortisol ◽  
Stress Scale ◽  
Potential Biomarker ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
Gestational Stress ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose: Stress has been shown to cause a large range of adverse fetal effects. This pilot study is the first attempt to examine cortisol level in the hair of pregnant women and assess its potential as a biomarker of gestational stress. Patients and Methods: Twenty-five healthy pregnant women, in whom hair cortisol levels and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) were measured and correlated. Results: Maternal hair cortisol levels, ranging between 0.06 and 0.23 nmol/g of hair correlated positively and significantly with measures of perceived stress (ranging between 2-22); (Rs=0.47) (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings corroborate recent primate studies with induced stress, and suggest that hair cortisol is a potential biomarker of chronic stress in pregnancy. This new long term biological marker may have important implications in research and clinical practice.

scholarly journals Hair cortisol-a method to detect chronic cortisol levels in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasanain Hamid Shukur ◽  
Yolanda B de Rijke ◽  
Elisabeth FC van Rossum ◽  
Laith Hussain-Alkhateeb ◽  
Charlotte Höybye
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression ◽  
Regression Model ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Linear Regression Model ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Prader Willi Syndrome ◽  
Hair Cortisol ◽  
Hair Samples ◽  
Cortisol Levels

Abstract Background: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a multisymptomatic, rare, genetic, neurodevelopmental disorder in adults mainly characterized by hyperphagia, cognitive dysfunction, behavioral problems and risk of morbid obesity. Although endocrine insufficiencies are common, hypocortisolism is rare and knowledge on long-term cortisol concentrations is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term cortisol levels in PWS by measurements of hair cortisol. Methods: Twenty-nine adults with PWS, 15 men and 14 women, median age 29 years, median BMI 27 kg/m2, were included. Scalp hair samples were analyzed for cortisol content using liquid-chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry. In addition, a questionnaire on auxology, medication and stress were included. For comparison, 105 age- and sex-matched participants from the population-based Lifelines Cohort study were included as controls. The mean hair cortisol between the groups were compared and associations between BMI and stress were assessed by a generalized linear regression model. Results: In the PWS group large variations in hair cortisol was seen. Mean hair cortisol was 12.8±25.4 pg/mg compared to 3.8±7.3 pg/mg in controls (p=0.001). The linear regression model similarly showed higher cortisol levels in patients with PWS, which remained consistent after adjusting for BMI and stress (p=0.023). Furthermore, hair cortisol increased with BMI (p=0.012) and reported stress (p=0.014). Conclusion: Long-term cortisol concentrations were higher in patients with PWS compared to controls and increased with BMI and stress, suggesting an adequate cortisol response to chronic stress. Hair cortisol demonstrate promising applications in the context of PWS treatment and disease management.

scholarly journals Scalp hair sweating as a predictor of hair cortisol level in human compared to obesity and other confounders

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Darya S. Abdulateef
Keyword(s):  
Cortisol Level ◽  
Scalp Hair ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Hair Cortisol ◽  
Significant Positive Association ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Hair Samples ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
Study Participants

AbstractInconsistent results were found throughout the literature regarding factors affecting hair cortisol levels. Hair cortisol level in humans was not studied for its associations to scalp hair sweating or hair wash frequency in a patient-based way. Factors affecting hair cortisol levels must be precisely known in order to interpret the results correctly. The aims of the study are to assess if BMI, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), hair wash frequency, and sweating with scalp hair affect hair cortisol levels. It will assess which of these factors are more significant predictors of hair cortisol levels. In a study on healthy adults, information about history, socio-demographics, PSS, hair wash frequency, hair treatment, and scalp hair sweating were collected, and hair samples were taken and analyzed for their hair cortisol level. Associations of hair cortisol levels with each of the variables were investigated and significant predictors of hair cortisol levels among the variables were found. Mean hair cortisol level in the study participants was 16.84 pg/mg hair. Hair cortisol has a significant positive association with weight, BMI, PSS, and scalp hair sweating, p < 0.05. Scalp hair sweating significantly predicts hair cortisol levels by 12.3%, while other variables did not significantly predict hair cortisol levels, p < 0.05. Scalp hair sweating significantly predicts hair cortisol levels. Age, hair wash frequency, hair treatment, and stressful events have no associations with hair cortisol levels. Although BMI and PSS are associated with hair cortisol levels, they do not significantly predict it. Obesity is significantly associated with profuse sweating, thus the increase in hair cortisol levels in obese individuals could partly be the result of a higher incidence of sweating in these individuals. Thus, scalp hair sweating should be taken into consideration during the study and interpretation of hair cortisol levels.

scholarly journals Hair cortisol-a method to detect chronic cortisol levels in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasanain Hamid Shukur ◽  
Yolanda B de Rijke ◽  
Elisabeth FC van Rossum ◽  
Laith Hussain-Alkhateeb ◽  
Charlotte Höybye
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression ◽  
Regression Model ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Linear Regression Model ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Prader Willi Syndrome ◽  
Hair Cortisol ◽  
Hair Samples ◽  
Cortisol Levels

Abstract Background: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a multisymptomatic, rare, genetic, neurodevelopmental disorder in adults mainly characterized by hyperphagia, cognitive dysfunction, behavioral problems and risk of morbid obesity. Although endocrine insufficiencies are common, hypocortisolism is rare and knowledge on long-term cortisol concentrations is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term cortisol levels in PWS by measurements of hair cortisol.Methods: Twenty-nine adults with PWS, 15 men and 14 women, median age 29 years, median BMI 27 kg/m2, were included. Scalp hair samples were analyzed for cortisol content using liquid-chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry. In addition, a questionnaire on auxology, medication and stress were included. For comparison, 105 age- and sex-matched participants from the population-based Lifelines Cohort study were included as controls. The mean hair cortisol between the groups were compared and associations between BMI and stress were assessed by a generalized linear regression model.Results: In the PWS group large variations in hair cortisol was seen. Mean hair cortisol was 12.8±25.4 pg/mg compared to 3.8±7.3 pg/mg in controls (p=0.001). The linear regression model similarly showed higher cortisol levels in patients with PWS, which remained consistent after adjusting for BMI and stress (p=0.023). Furthermore, hair cortisol increased with BMI (p=0.012) and reported stress (p=0.014).Conclusion: Long-term cortisol concentrations were higher in patients with PWS compared to controls and increased with BMI and stress, suggesting an adequate cortisol response to chronic stress. Hair cortisol demonstrate promising applications in the context of PWS treatment and disease management.

scholarly journals Longitudinal Associations between Hair Cortisol, PTSD Symptoms, and Sleep Disturbances in a Sample of Firefighters with Duty-related Trauma Exposure

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Roxanne Sopp ◽  
Tanja Michael ◽  
Johanna Lass-Hennemann ◽  
Shilat Haim-Nachum ◽  
Miriam J. J. Lommen
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Secondary Outcome Measure ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Hair Cortisol ◽  
Trauma Severity ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Hair Samples ◽  
Average Work ◽  
Cortisol Levels

Several studies have found evidence of altered cortisol levels in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Based on these findings, it is assumed that these patients may show signs of cortisol dysregulation after trauma. Posttrauma cortisol levels are thus considered a potential biomarker of PTSD. However, longitudinal studies using indicators of long-term cortisol secretion (such as hair cortisol concentrations; HCC) are scarce. The current study investigated prospective associations between HCC and PTSD symptoms in a sample of Dutch firefighters taking into account varying levels of work-related trauma severity. In addition, we assessed posttraumatic sleep disturbances as a secondary outcome measure to investigate whether effects generalize to this frequent comorbidity of PTSD. Three hundred seventy-one Dutch firefighters with a mean of 14.01 years of work experience were included in the analyses. Baseline assessment included the collection of hair samples and the measurement of work-related trauma severity, PTSD symptoms, and sleep disturbances. PTSD symptoms and sleep disturbance were re-assessed after six and twelve months. Multilevel analyses indicate a significant positive correlation between HCC and baseline PTSD symptoms in those with average or above-average work-related trauma severity. A similar pattern was evident for posttraumatic sleep disturbances at baseline. Moreover, higher HCC predicted more posttraumatic sleep disturbances after 6 months in participants with above-average work-related trauma severity. No other associations emerged for PTSD symptoms or posttraumatic sleep disturbances at six or twelve months. As such, our study supports the existence of a cross-sectional association between HCC and trauma symptoms, which may vary for different levels of subjective trauma severity. The longitudinal stability of this association should be reinvestigated by future research.

Healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia perceive stress differently according to gender but not in cortisol levels: an immunoassay study

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 4154
Author(s):  
Ricardo J. M. Governo ◽  
Danah A. Alyusuf ◽  
Paul R. Gard
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Chronic Stress ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Stress Perception ◽  
Indirect Measure ◽  
Healthcare Profession ◽  
Hair Samples ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
The Impact

Background: Working in the healthcare sector is generally regarded as stress inductive, which hampers performance, yet one demanding constant accuracy. This dichotomy has led to numerous investigations on the impact from perceived stress on hospital workers but focused primarily on employing psychological methods to determine perceived stress. This study sought to employ an arguably more objective measure of chronic stress on female healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia, by assaying the concentration of hair cortisol (HCC) in parallel with stress questionnaires.Methods: Pharmacists, nurses and lab workers participated in providing hair samples. Cortisol levels were subsequently quantified using immunoassay methods. Investigations considered the variables of age, gender, and smoking, hair coloring or bleaching or working in shifts on both stress perception and HCC.Results: On average chronic stress was perceived comparably between the different healthcare professions and not differ significantly against the female control group. However, chronic stress differed significantly between genders within the healthcare profession. In contrast, HCC levels showed no direct relation to stress perception with respect to either gender or profession. HCC did, however, show steady decreases with respect to age, as an indirect measure of experience, that contrasted against the identical scores for stress perception. Finally, night shifts, smoking or hair colouring did not produce a significant change on HCC in the healthcare cohorts.Conclusions: Women in the healthcare profession perceive stress higher irrespective of profession compared to men. Also show a pattern of decreasing levels of cortisol with increasing age despite reporting similar stress perception against younger participants.

scholarly journals Hair Cortisol and Its Association With Psychological Risk Factors for Psychiatric Disorders: A Pilot Study in Adolescent Twins

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 438-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liz Rietschel ◽  
Fabian Streit ◽  
Gu Zhu ◽  
Kerrie McAloney ◽  
Clemens Kirschbaum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Chronic Stress ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Eysenck Personality Questionnaire ◽  
Hair Cortisol ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
Hair Samples

Measuring cortisol in hair is a promising method to assess long-term alterations of the biological stress response system, and hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) may be altered in psychiatric disorders and in subjects suffering from chronic stress. However, the pattern of associations between HCC, chronic stress and mental health require clarification. Our exploratory study: (1) assessed the association between HCC and perceived stress, symptoms of depression and neuroticism, and the trait extraversion (as a control variable); and (2) made use of the twin design to estimate the genetic and environmental covariance between the variables of interest. Hair samples from 109 (74 female) subjects (age range 12–21 years, mean 15.1) including 8 monozygotic (MZ) and 21 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs were analyzed. Perceived stress was measured with the Perceived Stress Scale and/or the Daily Life and Stressors Scale, neuroticism, and extraversion with the NEO-Five Factor Inventory or the Junior Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, and depressive symptoms with the Somatic and Psychological Health Report. We found a modest positive association between HCC and the three risk factors — perceived stress, symptoms of depression, and neuroticism (r = 0.22–0.33) — but no correlation with extraversion (-0.06). A median split revealed that the associations between HCC and risk factors were stronger (0.47–0.60) in those subjects with HCC >11.36 pg/mg. Furthermore, our results suggest that the genetic effects underlying HCC are largely shared with those that influence perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and neuroticism. These results of our proof of principle study warrant replication in a bigger sample but raise the interesting question of the direction of causation between these variables.

scholarly journals Hair cortisol-a method to detect chronic cortisol levels in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasanain Hamid Shukur ◽  
Yolanda B. de Rijke ◽  
Elisabeth F. C. van Rossum ◽  
Laith Hussain-Alkhateeb ◽  
Charlotte Höybye
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression ◽  
Regression Model ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Linear Regression Model ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Prader Willi Syndrome ◽  
Hair Cortisol ◽  
Hair Samples ◽  
Cortisol Levels

Abstract Background Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a multisymptomatic, rare, genetic, neurodevelopmental disorder in adults mainly characterized by hyperphagia, cognitive dysfunction, behavioral problems and risk of morbid obesity. Although endocrine insufficiencies are common, hypocortisolism is rare and knowledge on long-term cortisol concentrations is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term cortisol levels in PWS by measurements of hair cortisol. Methods Twenty-nine adults with PWS, 15 men and 14 women, median age 29 years, median BMI 27 kg/m2, were included. Scalp hair samples were analyzed for cortisol content using liquid-chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry. In addition, a questionnaire on auxology, medication and stress were included. For comparison, 105 age- and sex-matched participants from the population-based Lifelines Cohort study were included as controls. The mean hair cortisol between the groups were compared and associations between BMI and stress were assessed by a generalized linear regression model. Results In the PWS group large variations in hair cortisol was seen. Mean hair cortisol was 12.8 ± 25.4 pg/mg compared to 3.8 ± 7.3 pg/mg in controls (p = 0.001). The linear regression model similarly showed higher cortisol levels in patients with PWS, which remained consistent after adjusting for BMI and stress (p = 0.023). Furthermore, hair cortisol increased with BMI (p = 0.012) and reported stress (p = 0.014). Conclusion Long-term cortisol concentrations were higher in patients with PWS compared to controls and increased with BMI and stress, suggesting an adequate cortisol response to chronic stress. Hair cortisol demonstrate promising applications in the context of PWS treatment and disease management.

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