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.
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.
Authors: Karin Keckeis; Michael Lepschy; Hanna Schöpper; Lukas Moser; Josef Troxler; Rupert Palme Journal: J Comp Physiol B Date: 2012-05-17 Impact factor: 2.200
Authors: Lauren J Wooddell; Amanda F Hamel; Ashley M Murphy; Kristen L Byers; Stefano S K Kaburu; Jerrold S Meyer; Stephen J Suomi; Amanda M Dettmer Journal: Psychoneuroendocrinology Date: 2017-06-29 Impact factor: 4.905
Authors: Leah H Somerville; Susan Y Bookheimer; Randy L Buckner; Gregory C Burgess; Sandra W Curtiss; Mirella Dapretto; Jennifer Stine Elam; Michael S Gaffrey; Michael P Harms; Cynthia Hodge; Sridhar Kandala; Erik K Kastman; Thomas E Nichols; Bradley L Schlaggar; Stephen M Smith; Kathleen M Thomas; Essa Yacoub; David C Van Essen; Deanna M Barch Journal: Neuroimage Date: 2018-08-22 Impact factor: 6.556