Measurement of cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone, and testosterone in the hair of children: Preliminary results and promising indications

Abstract

Hormone analysis is a valuable tool for understanding how physiology and behavior interact. Cortisol in hair has recently been examined as a measure of longer‐term hormone output. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between other androgens in hair and anthropometric measures. In a child sample (n = 114, mean age: 8.5 years, 66 females) levels of cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone were assayed in the 0–3 cm section proximal to scalp. The 3–6 cm segment within a subsample of female participants (n = 35) was examined and compared. Results showed that testosterone strongly correlated with DHEA, and moderately correlated with cortisol (0–3 cm only). Higher hormone concentrations were present in the 3–6 cm segment. Finally, there was a weak positive association between DHEA and height. The replication of previously identified associations between androgens, particularly testosterone‐DHEA, and with developmental measures suggests hair may offer a valid method of hormone measurement for DHEA and testosterone.

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