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Rapp L, Pollatos O. Examining parental stress and its link to hair cortisol and DHEA levels in kindergartners. Psychol Health 2024:1-25. [PMID: 38679909 DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2024.2347659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parental work-family conflict (WFC) and parental household income have been linked to negative outcomes for children. So far, no study has associated these two stressors with the hair concentration of cortisol (HCC) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in kindergarteners as a measurement of their objective stress. METHODS AND MEASURES 44 children (40.91% female) with a mean age of 5.16 years and their parents participated in this cross-sectional study. Children's cortisol and DHEA measurements reflected the hormones produced over the past two months. Parents filled out questionnaires concerning their WFC and parenting behavior. RESULTS Higher maternal WFC and a lower parental net household income were negatively associated with the DHEA and positively with HCC/DHEA ratio of their children. No significant associations were found between HCC and any included variables. Paternal WFC had no impact on the stress hormones and negatively affected parenting behavior of both parents. Levels of stress hormones were not correlated with parenting behavior. CONCLUSION The present results indicated a higher stress exposure in children of mothers with a higher WFC and lower net household income. Conceivably, this may have led to an accumulation of allostatic load. Potential influences of demographic variables on the children's hormones are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenz Rapp
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Olga Pollatos
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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2
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Kitani RA, Nicolaides NC, Mantzou A, Chatzidaki E, Michou M, Polychronaki N, Letsou K, Pervanidou P, Kanaka-Gantenbein C. Differences in segmental hair cortisol concentration analysis among children and adolescents with overweight and obesity, their parents, and normal weight peers. Hormones (Athens) 2023; 22:623-632. [PMID: 37688736 DOI: 10.1007/s42000-023-00482-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Dysregulation of the stress system via incidental long exposure to glucocorticoids (GCs) can lead to weight gain. In addition, family and maternal stress can also have an impact on children's weight. Hair is used in several studies to evaluate cortisol (GC) levels in children and adolescents with excess weight as a retrospective stress biomarker, depending on the hair length the cortisol measurement depicting different time periods. We aimed to investigate whether there is a difference among segmental hair cortisol concentration (HCC) analysis between children and adolescents with overweight and obesity, their mothers, and normal weight peers. METHODS This study recruited 25 children aged 6-14 years with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 85th centile and their mothers, as well as 20 children of the same age with a BMI < 85th centile. Hair cortisol concentration was measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. RESULTS Segmental HCC analysis exhibited gradually decreasing values in all participants as segments of hair were more distantly located from the scalp. A positive correlation was found between BMI z-score and HCC of the first segment of hair in children and adolescents with elevated BMI (b = 1.84, p = 0.033), as well as with maternal HCC / of an only child (b = 15.77, p = 0.01). There were no associations between mother-child dyads and children and adolescents of different BMI groups, even though minors with excess weight exhibited higher HCC levels in all segments of hair in comparison to their normal weight counterparts. CONCLUSIONS Hair cortisol of all participants exhibited a gradually declining concentration. More studies with larger samples and more sensitive methods of analysis are warranted in order to draw firmer conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa-Anna Kitani
- Postgraduate Course on "The Science of Stress and Health Promotion", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Thivon and Levadias str, 11527, Athens, Greece.
| | - Nicolas C Nicolaides
- Postgraduate Course on "The Science of Stress and Health Promotion", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Thivon and Levadias str, 11527, Athens, Greece
- First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Aimilia Mantzou
- First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Evi Chatzidaki
- First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Michou
- Postgraduate Course on "The Science of Stress and Health Promotion", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Thivon and Levadias str, 11527, Athens, Greece
- Human Ecology Laboratory, Department of Economics and Sustainable Development, Harokopio University, 17671, Athens, Greece
| | - Nektaria Polychronaki
- First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantina Letsou
- Postgraduate Course on "The Science of Stress and Health Promotion", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Thivon and Levadias str, 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiota Pervanidou
- Postgraduate Course on "The Science of Stress and Health Promotion", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Thivon and Levadias str, 11527, Athens, Greece
- First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Christina Kanaka-Gantenbein
- Postgraduate Course on "The Science of Stress and Health Promotion", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Thivon and Levadias str, 11527, Athens, Greece
- First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
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3
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Zhang H, Senior AM, Saner C, Olsen NJ, Larsen SC, Simpson SJ, Raubenheimer D, Heitmann BL. Evidence for the protein leverage hypothesis in preschool children prone to obesity. Clin Nutr 2023; 42:2249-2257. [PMID: 37820518 DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2023.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The protein leverage hypothesis (PLH) proposed that strict regulation of protein intake drives energy overconsumption and obesity when diets are diluted by fat and/or carbohydrates. Evidence about the PLH has been found in adults, while studies in children are limited. Thus, we aimed to test the PLH by assessing the role of dietary protein on macronutrients, energy intake, and obesity risk using data from preschool children followed for 1.3 years. METHODS 553 preschool children aged 2-6 years from the 'Healthy Start' project were included. EXPOSURES The proportion of energy intake from protein, fat, and carbohydrates collected from a 4-day dietary record. OUTCOMES Energy intake, BMI z-score, fat mass (FM) %, waist- (WHtR) and hip-height ratio (HHtR). Power function analysis was used to test the leverage of protein on energy intake. Mixture models were used to explore interactive associations of macronutrient composition on all these outcomes, with results visualized as response surfaces on the nutritional geometry. RESULTS Evidence for the PLH was confirmed in preschool children. The distribution of protein intake (% of MJ, IQR: 3.2) varied substantially less than for carbohydrate (IQR: 5.7) or fat (IQR: 6.3) intakes, suggesting protein intake is most tightly regulated. Absolute energy intake varied inversely with dietary percentage energy from protein (L = -0.14, 95% CI: -0.25, -0.04). Compared to children with high fat or carbohydrate intakes, children with high dietary protein intake (>20% of MJ) had a greater decrease in WHtR and HHtR over the 1.3-year follow-up, offering evidence for the PLH in prospective analysis. But no association was observed between macronutrient distribution and changes in BMI z-score or FM%. CONCLUSIONS In this study in preschool children, protein intake was the most tightly regulated macronutrient, and energy intake was an inverse function of dietary protein concentration, indicating the evidence for protein leverage. Increases in WHtR and HHtR were principally associated with the dietary protein dilution, supporting the PLH. These findings highlight the importance of protein in children's diets, which seems to have significant implications for childhood obesity risk and overall health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanyue Zhang
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, DK 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark; Section for General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, 1014 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Alistair M Senior
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006 New South Wales, Australia; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006 New South Wales, Australia
| | - Christoph Saner
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, 3052 Australia
| | - Nanna J Olsen
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, DK 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Sofus C Larsen
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, DK 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Stephen J Simpson
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006 New South Wales, Australia; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006 New South Wales, Australia
| | - David Raubenheimer
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006 New South Wales, Australia; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006 New South Wales, Australia
| | - Berit L Heitmann
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, DK 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark; Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006 New South Wales, Australia; Section for General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, 1014 Copenhagen K, Denmark.
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4
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Kunin-Batson AS, Crain AL, Gunnar MR, Kelly AS, Kharbanda EO, Haapala J, Seburg EM, Sherwood NE, French SA. Household Income, Cortisol, and Obesity During Early Childhood: A Prospective Longitudinal Study. J Pediatr 2023; 252:76-82. [PMID: 36113639 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2022.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To prospectively evaluate the relationship between household income, children's cortisol, and body mass index (BMI) trajectories over a 3-year period in early childhood. STUDY DESIGN Household income, child hair cortisol levels, and BMI were measured at baseline, 12-, 24-, and 36-month follow-up visits in the Now Everybody Together for Amazing and Healthful Kids (NET-Works) Study (n = 534, children ages 2-4 years, and household income <$65 000/year at baseline). Relationships were examined between very low household income (<$25 000/year) at baseline, income status over time (remained <$25 000/year or had increasing income), cortisol accumulation from hair samples, and BMI percent of the 95th percentile (BMIp95) trajectories using adjusted linear growth curve modeling. Households with baseline income between $25 000 and $65 000/year were the reference group for all analyses. RESULTS Children from very low-income households at baseline had annual changes in BMIp95 that were higher (P < .001) than children from reference group households (0.40 vs -0.62 percentage units/year). Annual increases in BMIp95 were also greater among children from households that remained very low income (P < .01, .34 percentage units/year) and among those with increasing income (P = .01, .51 percentage units/year) compared with the reference group (-0.61 percentage units/year). Children from households that remained very low income had higher hair cortisol accumulations (0.22 pg/mg, P = .02) than reference group children, whereas hair cortisol concentrations of children from households with increasing income (0.03 pg/mg) did not differ significantly from the reference group. Cortisol was not related to BMIp95. CONCLUSIONS The economic circumstances of families may impact children's BMI trajectories and their developing stress systems, but these processes may be independent of one another.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia S Kunin-Batson
- Department of Pediatrics and Center for Pediatric Obesity Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN.
| | | | - Megan R Gunnar
- Institute for Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Aaron S Kelly
- Department of Pediatrics and Center for Pediatric Obesity Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
| | | | | | | | - Nancy E Sherwood
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Simone A French
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
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Ma L, Liu X, Yan N, Gan Y, Wu Y, Li Y, Chu M, Chiu DT, Ma L. Associations Between Different Cortisol Measures and Adiposity in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Nutr 2022; 9:879256. [PMID: 35811977 PMCID: PMC9260431 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.879256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examined associations between hair, salivary, serum, and urinary cortisol concentration with adiposity-related indicators in children, and explored their potential effects modification by age, sex, cortisol measurement method, and country developmental context. We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase for studies examining at least one of the four aforementioned cortisol with objectively measured adiposity-related outcomes in children. Meta-analyses of cross-sectional studies revealed that hair cortisol concentration was associated with fat mass index (FMI)-standard deviation score (SDS)/FMI z-score (pooled-β = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.08) and BMI/BMI z-score (pooled-β = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.25), and these associations were significant among children aged ≤ 12 years (pooled-β = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.26) and >12 years (pooled-β = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.22), children from developed countries (pooled β = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.21) and developing countries (pooled-β = 0.193, 95% CI: 0.188, 0.198), and in studies extracting cortisol via LC-MS/MS (pooled-β = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.29) but not ELISA (pooled-β = 0.08, 95% CI: −0.06, 0.22). Meta-analyses of both cohort and cross-sectional studies revealed non-significant associations of morning salivary cortisol concentration and total daily cortisol output with BMI/BMI z-score. Serum cortisol concentration was not associated with BMI or waist circumference. Meta-analysis of urinary cortisol concentration and adiposity was hindered by insufficient data. These findings further corroborate understanding of chronic stress’ physiological contribution to increased pediatric obesity risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Ma
- School of Public Health, Global Health Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, China
| | - Xi Liu
- School of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Na Yan
- School of Public Health, Global Health Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, China
| | - Yiqun Gan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Wu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education, Xi’an, China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology, Xi’an, China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Meng Chu
- School of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, China
| | - Dorothy T. Chiu
- Community Health Sciences Division, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Dorothy T. Chiu,
| | - Le Ma
- School of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, China
- Le Ma,
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6
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van der Valk E, Abawi O, Mohseni M, Abdelmoumen A, Wester V, van der Voorn B, Iyer A, van den Akker E, Hoeks S, van den Berg S, de Rijke Y, Stalder T, van Rossum E. Cross-sectional relation of long-term glucocorticoids in hair with anthropometric measurements and their possible determinants: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev 2022; 23:e13376. [PMID: 34811866 PMCID: PMC9285618 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term glucocorticoids (HairGC) measured in scalp hair have been associated with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-hip-ratio (WHR) in several cross-sectional studies. We aimed to investigate the magnitude, strength, and clinical relevance of these relations across all ages. METHODS We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO registration CRD42020205187) searching for articles relating HairGC to measures of obesity. Main outcomes were bivariate correlation coefficients and unadjusted simple linear regression coefficients relating hair cortisol (HairF) and hair cortisone (HairE) to BMI, WC, and WHR. RESULTS We included k = 146 cohorts (n = 34,342 individuals). HairGC were positively related to all anthropometric measurements. The strongest correlation and largest effect size were seen for HairE-WC: pooled correlation 0.18 (95%CI 0.11-0.24; k = 7; n = 3,158; I2 = 45.7%) and pooled regression coefficient 11.0 cm increase in WC per point increase in 10-log-transformed HairE (pg/mg) on liquid-chromatography-(tandem) mass spectrometry (LC-MS) (95%CI 10.1-11.9 cm; k = 6; n = 3,102). Pooled correlation for HairF-BMI was 0.10 (95%CI 0.08-0.13; k = 122; n = 26,527; I2 = 51.2%) and pooled regression coefficient 0.049 kg/m2 per point increase in 10-log-transformed HairF (pg/mg) on LC-MS (95%CI 0.045-0.054 kg/m2 ; k = 26; n = 11,635). DISCUSSION There is a consistent positive association between HairGC and BMI, WC, and WHR, most prominently and clinically relevant for HairE-WC. These findings overall suggest an altered setpoint of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis with increasing central adiposity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline van der Valk
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ozair Abawi
- Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mostafa Mohseni
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Amir Abdelmoumen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent Wester
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bibian van der Voorn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anand Iyer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erica van den Akker
- Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sanne Hoeks
- Department of Anesthesiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd van den Berg
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Chemistry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yolanda de Rijke
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tobias Stalder
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth van Rossum
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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7
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Schmid-Zalaudek K, Fredriksen PM, Fabiani E, Fredriksen MV, Brix B, Rössler A, Jantscher A, Goswami N. Children's hair cortisol and hair testosterone concentrations in response to environmental changes: from summer holidays to school. Stress 2021; 24:998-1007. [PMID: 34842033 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2021.1985107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Elevated hair cortisol concentrations in children have been linked to several stress-related conditions, including school-related demands. However, little is known about changes in hair testosterone in children. The present study investigated changes in hair cortisol and hair testosterone concentrations in the time course of four months - from summer holidays until mid of autumn of the following school year - in 60, 10-12-year-old (11.31 ± 0.63) school children (29 girls). Children's mental health was assessed by the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) and related to hair cortisol and hair testosterone levels. Body mass index, waist-to-height ratio, and parental education were evaluated as potential confounders. In girls, the expected increase of hair cortisol concentrations was observed during school as compared to summer holidays, partly accounted for by peer- and emotional problems and the increase of HTC. In boys, hair cortisol and testosterone concentrations were significantly higher. Hair cortisol increased only slightly, while hair testosterone decreased significantly during school. The findings suggest a reciprocal influence of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, differentially affecting girls' and boys' hormone production in response to environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Schmid-Zalaudek
- Physiology Division, Otto Loewi Research Center for Vascular Biology, Immunology and Inflammation, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Ester Fabiani
- Alma Mater Europaea, Maribor, Slovenia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Bianca Brix
- Physiology Division, Otto Loewi Research Center for Vascular Biology, Immunology and Inflammation, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Andreas Rössler
- Physiology Division, Otto Loewi Research Center for Vascular Biology, Immunology and Inflammation, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Andreas Jantscher
- Physiology Division, Otto Loewi Research Center for Vascular Biology, Immunology and Inflammation, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Nandu Goswami
- Physiology Division, Otto Loewi Research Center for Vascular Biology, Immunology and Inflammation, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Alma Mater Europaea, Maribor, Slovenia
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8
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Damen L, Donze SH, Grootjen LN, Hokken-Koelega ACS. Long-term cortisol levels in hair of children and adolescents with Prader-Willi Syndrome. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 132:105335. [PMID: 34225184 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is characterized by hypothalamic dysfunction. In children with PWS, stress-induced central adrenal insufficiency (CAI) has been described, however, daily life cortisol production may be normal. Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is a marker of long-term systemic cortisol production. Cortisol awakening response (CAR) is the increase in cortisol level after awakening. A negative CAR might suggest hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis reactivity problems. Little is known about HCC and CAR in children with PWS. OBJECTIVE To investigate long-term cortisol levels in hair and CAR in children with PWS. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. PATIENTS 41 children with PWS. SETTING Dutch PWS Reference Center. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES HCC and salivary cortisol measured by LCMS. RESULTS Median (IQR) HCC was 1.90 (1.02-3.30) pg/mg at a median (IQR) age of 14.5 (8.20-19.0) years, with median HCC in age-matched references being 2.63 pg/mg. Five patients (13.2%) had HCC < 2.5th percentile for age and these patients had a repeatedly negative CAR. Median HCC was significantly lower in patients with negative CAR than in patients with normal CAR (1.00 (0.22-1.59) vs. 2.25 (1.47-3.26) pg/mg, p = 0.007). One patient had both HCC < 2.5th percentile and repeatedly low morning salivary cortisol levels and negative CAR, and was diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency by overnight metyrapone test. CONCLUSIONS HCC were normal in the majority of children with PWS. Our data suggest that children with HCC < 2.5th percentile and (repeatedly) negative CAR might possibly have adrenal insufficiency or delayed HPA-axis responsiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Damen
- Dutch Growth Research Foundation, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Subdivision of Endocrinology Erasmus University Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Dutch Reference Center for Prader-Willi Syndrome, The Netherlands.
| | - S H Donze
- Dutch Growth Research Foundation, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Subdivision of Endocrinology Erasmus University Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Dutch Reference Center for Prader-Willi Syndrome, The Netherlands
| | - L N Grootjen
- Dutch Growth Research Foundation, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Subdivision of Endocrinology Erasmus University Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Dutch Reference Center for Prader-Willi Syndrome, The Netherlands
| | - A C S Hokken-Koelega
- Dutch Growth Research Foundation, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Subdivision of Endocrinology Erasmus University Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Dutch Reference Center for Prader-Willi Syndrome, The Netherlands
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9
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Ostinelli G, Scovronec A, Iceta S, Ouellette AS, Lemieux S, Biertho L, Bégin C, Michaud A, Tchernof A. Deciphering the Association Between Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Activity and Obesity: A Meta-Analysis. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2021; 29:846-858. [PMID: 33783120 DOI: 10.1002/oby.23125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Both the cortisol awakening response (CAR; corresponding to the state measurement) and hair cortisol concentration (HCC; corresponding to the trait measurement) are considered reliable markers of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. Because cortisol has long been associated with adiposity, this systematic review and meta-analysis aims to summarize and compare the literature around CAR and HCC and their association with obesity or fat distribution indices. METHODS The PubMed, Web of Science (Web of Science Core Collection and Medline), EBSCO Information Services, Embase, and PsycNET databases were searched, and full-text articles investigating the association between CAR or HCC and markers of adiposity in humans were included. Meta-analyses were then performed to compare studies associating CAR or HCC with BMI (a marker of general adiposity) and waist circumference (a marker of fat distribution). RESULTS The results of this review highlight inconsistencies in cortisol sampling and CAR computation, which makes comparisons between studies difficult. It was found that adiposity indices are not associated with CAR but that they correlate significantly and positively with HCC. The subgroup analysis hinted to possible age differences in the magnitude of the association between HCC and BMI. CONCLUSIONS Trait rather than state measurement of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis activity is associated with increased general and abdominal adiposity in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Ostinelli
- Québec Heart and Lung Institute Research Center, Québec City, Québec, Canada
- School of Nutrition, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Anaïs Scovronec
- Québec Heart and Lung Institute Research Center, Québec City, Québec, Canada
- School of Nutrition, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Sylvain Iceta
- Québec Heart and Lung Institute Research Center, Québec City, Québec, Canada
- School of Nutrition, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | | | - Simone Lemieux
- School of Nutrition, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Laurent Biertho
- Québec Heart and Lung Institute Research Center, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Catherine Bégin
- School of Psychology, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Andréanne Michaud
- Québec Heart and Lung Institute Research Center, Québec City, Québec, Canada
- School of Nutrition, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - André Tchernof
- Québec Heart and Lung Institute Research Center, Québec City, Québec, Canada
- School of Nutrition, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
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10
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Larsen SC, Turicchi J, Christensen GL, Larsen CS, Jørgensen NR, Mikkelsen MLK, Horgan G, O’Driscoll R, Michalowska J, Duarte C, Scott SE, Santos I, Encantado J, Palmeira AL, Stubbs RJ, Heitmann BL. Hair Cortisol Concentration, Weight Loss Maintenance and Body Weight Variability: A Prospective Study Based on Data From the European NoHoW Trial. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:655197. [PMID: 34659105 PMCID: PMC8511813 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.655197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Several cross-sectional studies have shown hair cortisol concentration to be associated with adiposity, but the relationship between hair cortisol concentration and longitudinal changes in measures of adiposity are largely unknown. We included 786 adults from the NoHoW trial, who had achieved a successful weight loss of ≥5% and had a body mass index of ≥25 kg/m2 prior to losing weight. Hair cortisol concentration (pg/mg hair) was measured at baseline and after 12 months. Body weight and body fat percentage were measured at baseline, 6-month, 12-month and 18-month visits. Participants weighed themselves at home ≥2 weekly using a Wi-Fi scale for the 18-month study duration, from which body weight variability was estimated using linear and non-linear approaches. Regression models were conducted to examine log hair cortisol concentration and change in log hair cortisol concentration as predictors of changes in body weight, change in body fat percentage and body weight variability. After adjustment for lifestyle and demographic factors, no associations between baseline log hair cortisol concentration and outcome measures were observed. Similar results were seen when analysing the association between 12-month concurrent development in log hair cortisol concentration and outcomes. However, an initial 12-month increase in log hair cortisol concentration was associated with a higher subsequent body weight variability between month 12 and 18, based on deviations from a nonlinear trend (β: 0.02% per unit increase in log hair cortisol concentration [95% CI: 0.00, 0.04]; P=0.016). Our data suggest that an association between hair cortisol concentration and subsequent change in body weight or body fat percentage is absent or marginal, but that an increase in hair cortisol concentration during a 12-month weight loss maintenance effort may predict a slightly higher subsequent 6-months body weight variability. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN registry, identifier ISRCTN88405328.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofus C. Larsen
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, The Capital Region, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Sofus C. Larsen,
| | - Jake Turicchi
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Niklas R. Jørgensen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marie-Louise K. Mikkelsen
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, The Capital Region, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Graham Horgan
- Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Ruairi O’Driscoll
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna Michalowska
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
- Department of Treatment of Obesity, Metabolic Disorders and Clinical Dietetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Cristiana Duarte
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah E. Scott
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Inês Santos
- Laboratório de Nutrição, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Centro Interdisciplinar para o Estudo da Performance Humana, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Centro de Investigação em Desporto, Educação Física, Exercício e Saúde (CIDEFES), Universidade Lusófona, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Jorge Encantado
- Centro Interdisciplinar para o Estudo da Performance Humana, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Applied Psychology Research Center Capabilities & Inclusion (APPsyCI), Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada (ISPA) - Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Antonio L. Palmeira
- Centro Interdisciplinar para o Estudo da Performance Humana, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Centro de Investigação em Desporto, Educação Física, Exercício e Saúde (CIDEFES), Universidade Lusófona, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - R. James Stubbs
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Berit L. Heitmann
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, The Capital Region, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- The Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise & Eating Disorders, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Public Health, Section for General Practice, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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11
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Dauegaard S, Olsen NJ, Heitmann BL, Larsen SC. Familial associations in hair cortisol concentration: A cross-sectional analysis based on the Healthy Start study. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 121:104836. [PMID: 32858307 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
A few studies have shown a direct association between maternal and child hair cortisol concentrations (HCC), but the potential correlations within paternal-child and maternal-paternal dyads are not clear from the current evidence. Thus, we aimed to thoroughly examine associations between family members HCC. We conducted a cross-sectional study based on 159 children and their parents (159 mothers and 159 fathers) participating in the Danish Healthy Start Study. Information was available on HCC from both children, mothers and fathers, as well as on several sociodemographic factors. First, Pearson's correlation coefficients were applied to assess crude correlations between family members' HCC. Secondly, analysis of covariance, adjusted for covariates, was applied to estimate child mean HCC in quartiles of maternal and paternal HCC, and mean paternal HCC in quartiles of maternal HCC. Our results showed direct associations between HCC of all family members. We found statistically robust correlations between maternal and child HCC (r = 0.33; P < 0.001), paternal and child HCC (r = 0.37; P < 0.001) and between maternal and paternal HCC (r = 0.31; P < 0.001). Similar results were found when adjusting for covariates in analyses of covariance. Our data provides evidence of associations between family members' HCC. However, we were unable to determine the extent to which these associations were due to shared genetics, assortative mating or environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Dauegaard
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, The Capital Region, Denmark
| | - Nanna J Olsen
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, The Capital Region, Denmark
| | - Berit L Heitmann
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, The Capital Region, Denmark; The Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise & Eating Disorders, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Department of Public Health, Section for General Practice, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sofus C Larsen
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, The Capital Region, Denmark.
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12
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Vepsäläinen H, Hautaniemi H, Sääksjärvi K, Leppänen MH, Nissinen K, Suhonen E, Saha M, Lehto E, Ray C, Sajaniemi N, Erkkola M. Do stressed children have a lot on their plates? A cross-sectional study of long-term stress and diet among Finnish preschoolers. Appetite 2020; 157:104993. [PMID: 33065192 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2020.104993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
We examined the association between hair cortisol concentration (HCC) - an indicator of long-term stress - and diet among preschoolers in a cross-sectional design. The participants were 597 Finnish 3-6-year-olds, and the data were collected in 2015-16. We used 4-cm hair samples to analyze HCC during the past four months. Food consumption was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, and we used consumption frequencies of selected food groups as well as data-driven dietary pattern scores in the analyses. The parents of the participating children reported their educational level and family income. The researchers measured the children's weight and height. We examined the associations between HCC and diet using multilevel linear mixed models adjusted for age, gender, the highest education in the family, household relative income, and child BMI. Higher HCCs were associated with less frequent consumption of fruit and berries (B estimate -1.17, 95% CI -2.29, -0.05) and lower scores in a health-conscious dietary pattern (B estimate -0.38, 95% CI -0.61, -0,14). Higher HCCs were also associated with more frequent consumption of sugary beverages (B estimate 1.30, 95% CI 0.06, 2.54) in a model adjusted for age, gender and highest education in the family, but the association attenuated after further adjustments. Our results are parallel with previous studies that show a link between stress and unhealthy diet. In the future, longitudinal studies are needed to establish a causal relationship between stress and diet among children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henna Vepsäläinen
- University of Helsinki, Department of Food and Nutrition, P.O. Box 66, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Hannele Hautaniemi
- University of Helsinki, Department of Food and Nutrition, P.O. Box 66, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Katri Sääksjärvi
- University of Helsinki, Department of Teacher Education, P.O. Box 9, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Marja H Leppänen
- Folkhälsan Research Center, Topeliuksenkatu 20, 00250, Helsinki, Finland; University of Helsinki, Department of Food and Nutrition, P.O. Box 66, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Kaija Nissinen
- Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences, Kampusranta 11, 60101, Seinäjoki, Finland; University of Helsinki, Department of Food and Nutrition, P.O. Box 66, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Eira Suhonen
- University of Helsinki, Department of Teacher Education, P.O. Box 9, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Mari Saha
- Tampere University, Faculty of Education and Culture, P.O. Box 700, 33014, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
| | - Elviira Lehto
- University of Helsinki, Department of Teacher Education, P.O. Box 9, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Tampere University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Arvo Ylpön Katu 34, 33014, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
| | - Carola Ray
- Folkhälsan Research Center, Topeliuksenkatu 20, 00250, Helsinki, Finland; University of Helsinki, Department of Food and Nutrition, P.O. Box 66, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Nina Sajaniemi
- University of Helsinki, Department of Teacher Education, P.O. Box 9, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; University of Eastern Finland, School of Applied Sciences and Teacher Education, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland.
| | - Maijaliisa Erkkola
- University of Helsinki, Department of Food and Nutrition, P.O. Box 66, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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13
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Ling J, Kao TSA, Robbins LB. Body mass index, waist circumference and body fat are positively correlated with hair cortisol in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev 2020; 21:e13050. [PMID: 32543094 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The current body of research lacks a meta-analysis of the relationship between hair cortisol concentration (HCC) and anthropometry in children. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to examine this relationship and explore possible moderators between HCC and body mass index (BMI/BMI z-score). Eleven databases were searched: CINAHL, Cochrane, Embase, PsycEXTRA, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Social Sciences Full Text, Sociological Abstracts and Web of Sciences. Random-effects models and exploratory moderator analyses with mixed-effects models were performed using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. The meta-analysis showed small positive correlations between HCC and BMI (r = 0.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02, 0.14, n = 18, p = .009), BMI z-score (r = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.16, n = 12, p = .003), waist circumference (r = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.17, n = 10, p = .001) and body fat including fat mass index (r = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.11, n = 3, p = .005). The relationship between HCC and BMI/BMI z-score was significantly moderated by children's sex. Results from this meta-analysis provide initial objective support for a small positive relationship between HCC and anthropometric factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiying Ling
- College of Nursing, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Tsui-Sui Annie Kao
- College of Nursing, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Lorraine B Robbins
- College of Nursing, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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Obesity and Hair Cortisol: Relationships Varied Between Low-Income Preschoolers and Mothers. Matern Child Health J 2020; 24:1495-1504. [PMID: 32989566 DOI: 10.1007/s10995-020-03008-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Literature on the relationship between hair cortisol concentration (HCC) and body mass index (BMI) is scarce and inconsistent in both preschoolers and parents. Thus, the study aimed to examine the relationships among HCC, perceived distress, coping, and BMI among low-income Head Start preschoolers and mothers. METHODS A cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted with a non-random sample of 35 mother-preschooler dyads. Height and weight were measured using a ShorrBoard Stadiometer and a Seca portable electronic scale, respectively. HCC was extracted using the enzyme immunoassay approach. Mothers' perceived distress and coping were assessed by Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale. RESULTS Mothers' mean age was 29.74 years, and preschoolers' mean age was 4.69 years. The sample included 17% Hispanic, 54% Black, and 60% single mothers; and 23% Hispanic and 60% Black preschoolers. Compared to mothers in low HCC group (< 4.1 pg/mg), mothers in high HCC group (≥ 4.1 pg/mg) had lower BMI (B = - 4.62, p = .049). The indirect effects of mothers' HCC on BMI via perceived distress and coping was 15% of the total effects. Preschoolers with mothers in high HCC group had significantly lower BMI z-score than those with mothers in low HCC group (B = - 0.94, p = .043). Preschoolers' HCC had a small positive correlation with their BMI z-score (B = 0.01, p = .112). CONCLUSIONS Relationships between HCC and BMI varied between low-income mothers and preschoolers. A stress management component may need to be integrated into future obesity interventions. Given the limitation of small sample size and cross-sectional study design, the findings need to be interpreted with caution, and further investigation is warranted.
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15
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Associations between objective measures of physical activity, sleep and stress levels among preschool children. BMC Pediatr 2020; 20:258. [PMID: 32460881 PMCID: PMC7254697 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-020-02108-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cortisol is often used as a biological marker for stress. When measured in urine or serum, representing a short-term measurement of the hormone, it has been associated with unfavorable sleep characteristics and both low and high physical activity levels. However, cortisol in hair represents a long-term stress measure and has been suggested as a promising new marker for chronic stress. Therefore, we aimed to examine the association between objectively measured sleep, physical activity and hair cortisol levels in preschool children. Methods In order to obtain objective measures of physical activity and sleep habits, 54 children aged 2–6 years wore an ActiGraph for 5 consecutive days and nights. For chronic stress measurements of each child, hair was cut from the back of the head close to the scalp for analysis of cortisol levels. Associations between measured sleep quality and quantity and level of physical activity and hair cortisol levels were estimated using linear regression analysis, presented as β. Results were adjusted for sex, age and BMI z-score. Results We found no significant association between log-transformed cortisol (pg/mg) and sleep duration (hours) (β = − 0.0016, p = 0.99), sleep efficiency (β = − 3.1, p = 0.18), sleep latency (β = 0.015, p = 0.16) or physical activity level (100 counts per min) (β = 0.014, p = 0.22). However, sleep latency (min) was directly associated with physical activity (counts per min) levels (β = 35.2, p = 0.02), while sleep duration (hours) (β = − 142.1, p = 0.55) and sleep efficiency (%) (β = − 4087, p = 0.26) showed no significant associations. Conclusions In our study, a high physical activity level was associated with poorer sleep habits. Neither sleep quality nor physical activity were related to long term cortisol exposure. These results are among the first to study associations between objectively measured sleep, physical activity and chronic cortisol levels among preschool children. More and larger studies are therefore needed.
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16
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Petimar J, Rifas-Shiman SL, Hivert MF, Fleisch AF, Tiemeier H, Oken E. [Not Available]. Pediatr Obes 2020; 15:e12592. [PMID: 31689001 PMCID: PMC7012732 DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.12592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine associations of hair cortisol concentration (HCC) in mid-childhood and change in HCC from mid-childhood to early adolescence (ΔHCC) with early adolescent adiposity and cardiometabolic biomarker measures. METHODS: In Project Viva, a pre-birth cohort of mothers and children, we measured HCC in 599 white children in mid-childhood and in 426 of these participants in early adolescence. We used multivariable linear regression to examine associations of mid-childhood HCC and ΔHCC with BMI-for-age-and-sex z-score, waist circumference, waist-height ratio, dual X-ray absorptiometry total and trunk fat mass, a metabolic risk z-score, adiponectin, HOMA-IR, high-density lipoprotein, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, leptin, and systolic blood pressure. RESULTS: Over a mean (SD) follow-up of 5.2 (0.8) years, we did not find associations of mid-childhood HCC with BMI-for-age-and-sex z-score (β=0.00 per 1-interquartile range of HCC, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.08, 0.07), waist circumference (β=−0.04cm, 95% CI: −0.83, 0.74), metabolic risk z-score (β=0.04, 95% CI: −0.03, 0.11), or other cardiometabolic measures except for an increase in log-transformed HOMA-IR (β=0.10, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.17). ΔHCC was not associated with any outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: We found that mid-childhood HCC was not associated with early adolescent adiposity or cardiometabolic biomarkers except for a slight increase in HOMA-IR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Petimar
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA,Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sheryl L. Rifas-Shiman
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marie-France Hivert
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA,Diabetes Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Abby F. Fleisch
- Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME,Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland, ME, USA
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center-Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Emily Oken
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, USA
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Bryson HE, Mensah F, Goldfeld S, Price AMH. Using Hair Cortisol to Examine the Role of Stress in Children's Health Inequalities at 3 Years. Acad Pediatr 2020; 20:193-202. [PMID: 31103881 DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2019.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Children exposed to early adversity (eg, financial hardship, family violence, parent mental health difficulties) are at greater risk of poor health outcomes. Physiological stress is one mechanism thought to explain this pathway. We investigated associations between adversity and young children's health and whether child stress (measured using hair cortisol) mediated these associations. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study of 3-year-old children whose mothers were recruited during pregnancy, through the right@home trial, for their experience of adversity. Using total counts of 9 sociodemographic and 9 psychosocial indicators of adversity, regression models examined relationships among adversity risk counts, child hair cortisol (potential mediator), and 5 health outcomes: externalizing and internalizing problems, physical and socioemotional wellbeing, and overweight/obesity. RESULTS Hair cortisol data were available for 297 out of 500 (59%) participating children. When examined separately, sociodemographic adversity risk was associated with higher externalizing problems, and psychosocial adversity risk was associated with higher externalizing problems and poorer physical/socioemotional wellbeing. When examined together in a single model, psychosocial (but not sociodemographic) adversity was associated with higher externalizing problems (unstandardized mean difference [β], 0.53; P = .002) and poorer physical wellbeing (β, 1.19; P = .009); higher hair cortisol was associated with higher externalizing problems (β, 0.76; P = .02). There was no evidence that stress (hair cortisol) mediated associations between adversity and health. CONCLUSIONS In 3-year-old children, we found no evidence that physiological stress (hair cortisol) mediated associations between adversity risk and children's health. Hair cortisol may be limited as a single measure of stress, or physiological stress may not be a mechanism for explaining the effects of adversity on these young children's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah E Bryson
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute (HE Bryson, F Mensah, S Goldfeld, and AMH Price); Centre for Community Child Health (HE Bryson, S Goldfeld, and AMH Price); Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (F Mensah), The Royal Children's Hospital.
| | - Fiona Mensah
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute (HE Bryson, F Mensah, S Goldfeld, and AMH Price); Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (F Mensah), The Royal Children's Hospital; Department of Paediatrics (HE Bryson, F Mensah, S Goldfeld, and AMH Price), The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sharon Goldfeld
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute (HE Bryson, F Mensah, S Goldfeld, and AMH Price); Centre for Community Child Health (HE Bryson, S Goldfeld, and AMH Price); Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (F Mensah), The Royal Children's Hospital
| | - Anna M H Price
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute (HE Bryson, F Mensah, S Goldfeld, and AMH Price); Centre for Community Child Health (HE Bryson, S Goldfeld, and AMH Price); Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (F Mensah), The Royal Children's Hospital
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Petimar J, Rifas-Shiman SL, Hivert MF, Fleisch AF, Tiemeier H, Oken E. Prenatal and childhood predictors of hair cortisol concentration in mid-childhood and early adolescence. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228769. [PMID: 32017807 PMCID: PMC6999889 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is an increasingly used measure of systemic cortisol concentration. However, determinants of HCC in children and adolescents are unclear because few prospective studies have been conducted to date. Study design We followed 725 children in Project Viva, a pre-birth cohort study of mothers and children, who provided hair samples at mid-childhood (median age: 7.7 years) or early adolescence (median age: 12.9 years). We examined associations of various factors measured from pregnancy to mid-childhood with HCC in mid-childhood and early adolescence, as well as change in HCC between these time points (ΔHCC). Results There were 426 children with HCC measurements in both mid-childhood and early adolescence, 173 children with measures only in mid-childhood, and 126 with measures only in early adolescence. HCC was lower in mid-childhood (median 1.0pg/mg [interquartile range, IQR: 0.5, 2.4]) than early adolescence (2.2pg/mg [1.1, 4.4]). In multivariable-adjusted regression models, female sex (β = -0.41, 95% CI: -0.67, -0.15) and birth weight-for-gestational age z-score (β = -0.19, 95% CI: -0.33, -0.04) were associated with lower mid-childhood HCC, while prenatal smoking was associated with higher mid-childhood HCC (β = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.04, 1.01). In early adolescence, child age (β = 0.34 per year, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.46) female sex (β = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.10, 0.57), and maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (β = 0.15 per 5-kg/m2, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.29) were positively associated with HCC. Child anthropometric measures and biomarker concentrations were not associated with HCC. Conclusion Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, maternal prenatal smoking, and low birth weight were associated with higher mid-childhood and adolescent HCC. However, few postnatal characteristics were associated with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Petimar
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.,Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sheryl L Rifas-Shiman
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Marie-France Hivert
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.,Diabetes Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Abby F Fleisch
- Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes and Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine, United States of America
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.,Erasmus University Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Emily Oken
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.,Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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19
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Larsen SC, Rohde JF, Olsen NJ, Händel MN, Stougaard M, Fahrenkrug J, Heitmann BL. Association between hair cortisol concentration and dietary intake among normal weight preschool children predisposed to overweight and obesity. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0213573. [PMID: 30849107 PMCID: PMC6407774 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The association between chronically elevated cortisol, as measured by hair cortisol concentration (HCC), and dietary intake among children has generally not been explored. Moreover, it is unknown whether there is an association between parental HCC and dietary intake among their children. Objective To examine associations between HCC and dietary intake among children, and to explore the association between parental HCC and dietary intake among their children. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study based on 296 children predisposed to overweight and obesity who participated in the Healthy Start study. Multiple Linear regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between HCC and total energy intake, macronutrients, fruit and vegetables, added sugar, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), and a diet quality index (DQI). Results Among the children, we found that higher HCC was associated with a lower consumption of dietary fat (β: -0.7 g/day [95% CI: -1.3, -0.0] per 100 pg/mg HCC). We found no statistically significant association between HCC and intake of total energy, protein, carbohydrate, fruit and vegetables, added sugar, SSB or DQI. We found no association between parental HCC and intake of total energy, added sugar, selected food groups or DQI among their children. However, stratified analyses showed that paternal HCC was associated with a borderline significant lower total energy intake and significantly lower protein intake, but only among daughters (adjusted β: -42 kcal/day [95% CI: -85, 0] and -2.6 g/day [95% CI: -4.4, -0.8] per 100 pg/mg HCC, respectively). Conclusion Among children, chronic stress as measured by HCC may be associated with a lower fat consumption, and paternal HCC may be associated with a lower intake of energy and protein among their daughters. However, the associations observed were weak, and any clinical relevance of these findings remains questionable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofus C. Larsen
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, The Capital Region, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- * E-mail:
| | - Jeanett F. Rohde
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, The Capital Region, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Department of Research and Development, Health Science, University College UCC, Hillerød, Denmark
| | - Nanna J. Olsen
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, The Capital Region, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Mina N. Händel
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, The Capital Region, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Maria Stougaard
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, The Capital Region, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Jan Fahrenkrug
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen NV, Denmark
| | - Berit L. Heitmann
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, The Capital Region, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- The National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise & Eating Disorders, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Hinnouho GM, Bernstein RM, Barffour MA, Arnold CD, Wessells KR, Ratsavong K, Bounheuang B, Kounnavong S, Hess SY. Impact of Two Forms of Daily Preventive Zinc or Therapeutic Zinc Supplementation for Diarrhea on Hair Cortisol Concentrations Among Rural Laotian Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients 2018; 11:E47. [PMID: 30591656 PMCID: PMC6356851 DOI: 10.3390/nu11010047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Zinc supplementation has been shown to reduce the morbidity burden among young children, and may reduce chronic stress. Hair cortisol has been promoted as an indicator of chronic stress. We assessed the impact of different strategies for delivering supplementary zinc on hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) in young Laotian children and examined risk factors associated with HCC. In a randomized double-blind controlled trial (NCT02428647), children aged 6⁻23 mo were randomized to one of four intervention groups and followed for ~36 weeks: daily preventive zinc (PZ) tablets (7 mg/day), daily multiple micronutrient powder (MNP) sachets (containing 10 mg zinc and 14 other micronutrients), therapeutic zinc (TZ) supplements for diarrhea treatment (20 mg/day for 10 days) or daily placebo powder. HCC of 512 children was assessed at baseline and endline. ANCOVA and linear regression models were used to assess group differences in HCC and to examine the risk factors associated with HCC, respectively. At enrollment, mean HCC was 28.8 ± 43.9 pg/mg. In models adjusted for age at enrollment, health district, and baseline HCC there was no overall effect of the interventions on endline HCC and change in HCC. When controlling for additional predetermined covariates, there was a marginally significant effect on change in HCC (p = 0.075) with a slightly lower reduction of HCC in TZ compared to PZ (mean change (95% CI): -4.6 (-7.0; -2.3) vs. -9.4 (-11.7; -7.0) pg/mg; p = 0.053). At baseline, consumption of iron rich foods was negatively associated with HCC, whereas AGP (α1-acid glycoprotein) levels, elevated AGP and C-reactive protein and high soluble transferrin receptor were positively associated with HCC. In young Laotian children, MNP, PZ and TZ had no impact on HCC. The marginal difference in change in HCC between the PZ and TZ groups was too small to be considered of health significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy-Marino Hinnouho
- Program in International and Community Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Robin M Bernstein
- Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
- Health and Society Program, Institute for Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
| | - Maxwell A Barffour
- Program in International and Community Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
- Public Health Program, College of Health and Human Services, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO 65897, USA.
| | - Charles D Arnold
- Program in International and Community Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - K Ryan Wessells
- Program in International and Community Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Kethmany Ratsavong
- Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute, Ban Kaognot, Sisattanack District, Vientiane 01030, Laos.
| | - Bangone Bounheuang
- Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute, Ban Kaognot, Sisattanack District, Vientiane 01030, Laos.
| | - Sengchanh Kounnavong
- Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute, Ban Kaognot, Sisattanack District, Vientiane 01030, Laos.
| | - Sonja Y Hess
- Program in International and Community Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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Gartstein MA, Seamon E, Thompson SF, Lengua LJ. Featured Article: Community Crime Exposure and Risk for Obesity in Preschool Children: Moderation by the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal-Axis Response. J Pediatr Psychol 2018; 43:353-365. [PMID: 29048574 DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsx116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Identification of early risk factors related to obesity is critical to preventative public health efforts. In this study, we investigated links between the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA)-axis activity (diurnal cortisol pattern), geospatially operationalized exposure to neighborhood crime, and body mass index (BMI) for a sample of 5-year-old children. Greater community crime exposure and lower HPA-axis activity were hypothesized to contribute to higher BMI, with child HPA-axis moderating the association between crime exposure and BMI. Method Families residing within the boundaries of the City of Seattle (N = 114) provided information concerning demographic/psychosocial risk factors, used to calculate a Cumulative Risk Index, indicating the number of contextual adversities present. Child BMI and diurnal cortisol pattern (derived from assays of saliva samples) were examined, along with neighborhood crime indices computed with publically available information, based on participants' locations. Results Hierarchical multiple regression analyses, adjusted for covariates (cumulative risk, age, and sex), indicated that crime proximity made a unique contribution to child BMI, in the direction signaling an increase in the risk for obesity. Consistent with our hypothesis, a significant interaction was observed, indicative of moderation by diurnal cortisol pattern. Follow-up simple slope analyses demonstrated that crime exposure was significantly related to higher BMI for children with low-flat (blunted) diurnal cortisol patterns, where community crime and BMI were not significantly associated at higher levels of cortisol. Conclusion Community crime exposure contributes to higher BMI as early as the preschool period, and blunted diurnal cortisol patterns may place children experiencing neighborhood adversity at greater risk for obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erich Seamon
- Department of Forest, Rangeland, and Fire Science, University of Idaho
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22
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Determinants of hair cortisol concentration in children: A systematic review. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 87:204-214. [PMID: 29112905 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Revised: 10/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several factors are known contribute to hair cortisol concentration (HCC) in adults. However, there is less research on determinants of HCC in children and adolescents. HCC is a valuable tool for medical research pertaining to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This review aims to assess the extent to which established determinants of HCC in adults have been consistently reported in children (birth - 18 years) and to identify determinants of HCC specific to this age group. METHODS Eligible studies were identified, selected and appraised as per PRISMA-P guidelines and as detailed in our systematic review protocol, registered on PROSPERO (registration number CRD42017056220). In view of contrasting methods and measures, a meta-analysis could not be done but a qualitative synthesis was performed. RESULTS Thirty-six studies were included in the analysis. Higher HCC is associated with male sex and anthropometry, particularly increased body mass index and waist circumference. There is preliminary evidence to suggest that socio-economic status is inversely related to child HCC, particularly with reference to caregiver education and income. Of note, most of the studies analysing socio-economic variables were performed in relatively equal societies. Hair wash frequency and use of hair products and treatments do not affect HCC when proximal segments of hair are used. There is conflicting evidence regarding the relationship between HCC and age in children and adolescents. Further investigation is required to better delineate if and how the following are associated with HCC in children: hair colour, hair type, exposure to trauma and stressors, psychiatric illness, atopic illness, steroid use (including topical and inhaled steroids) and perinatal variables. CONCLUSIONS Sex and anthropometry are potential confounders and should be considered for adjustment in hair cortisol research. Hair wash frequency and use of hair products and treatments are not important confounders when proximal hair segments are used. A better understanding of HCC in children in relation to exposure to trauma and stressors is required before it can be used as a biomarker, particularly in terms of vulnerable developmental stages, definition and measurement of stress, and temporal relationship to stressors. Age, SES and other correlates also warrant further investigation.
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Page-Reeves J, Regino L, Murray-Krezan C, Bleecker M, Erhardt E, Burge M, Bearer E, Mishra S. A comparative effectiveness study of two culturally competent models of diabetes self-management programming for Latinos from low-income households. BMC Endocr Disord 2017; 17:46. [PMID: 28738902 PMCID: PMC5525248 DOI: 10.1186/s12902-017-0192-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diabetes risk is extremely high for Latinos from low-income households. Health guidelines recommend that individuals learn strategies to self-manage their diabetes, but getting people to adopt required lifestyle changes is challenging and many people are not able to prevent their pre-diabetes from escalating or effectively control their diabetes. Systematic reviews show that culturally competent self-management programs can significantly improve diabetes outcomes and different models for culturally competent programming have been developed. METHODS This patient-engaged study will compare the effectiveness of two distinct evidence-based models for culturally competent diabetes health promotion at two sites that serve a large Latino patient population from low-income households: 1) The Diabetes Self-Management Support Empowerment Model, an educational session approach, and 2) The Chronic Care Model, a holistic community-based program. Data collection will involve interviews, focus groups, surveys and assessments of each program; and testing of patient participants for A1c, depression, Body Mass Index (BMI), and chronic stress with hair cortisol levels. We will recruit a total of 240 patient-social support pairs: Patients will be adults (men and women over the age of 18) who: 1.) Enter one of the two diabetes programs during the study; 2.) Self-identify as "Latino;" 3.) Are able to identify a social support person or key member of their social network who also agrees to participate with them; 4.) Are not pregnant (participants who become pregnant during the study will be excluded); and 5.) Have household income 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) or below. Social supports will be adults who are identified by the patient participants. PRIMARY OUTCOME Improved capacity for diabetes self-management measured through improvements in diabetes knowledge and diabetes-related patient activation. SECONDARY OUTCOME Successful diabetes self-management as measured by improvements in A1c, depression scale scores, BMI, and circulating levels of cortisol to determine chronic stress. DISCUSSION Our hypothesis is that the program model that interfaces most synergistically with patients' culture and everyday life circumstances will have the best diabetes health outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov on December 16, 2016 (Registration # NCT03004664 ).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lidia Regino
- University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, USA
| | | | - Molly Bleecker
- University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, USA
| | - Erik Erhardt
- University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, USA
| | - Mark Burge
- University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, USA
| | - Elaine Bearer
- University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, USA
| | - Shiraz Mishra
- University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, USA
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Kristensen SK, Larsen SC, Olsen NJ, Fahrenkrug J, Heitmann BL. Hair dyeing, hair washing and hair cortisol concentrations among women from the healthy start study. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2017; 77:182-185. [PMID: 28073090 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2016] [Revised: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 12/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) has been suggested as a promising marker for chronic stress. However, studies investigating the influence of hair dyeing and hair washing frequency on HCC have shown inconsistent results. OBJECTIVE To examine associations between HCC and hair dyeing status or weekly hair washing frequency among women. METHODS This cross-sectional study was based on data from 266 mothers participating in the Healthy Start intervention study. HCC was measured in the proximal end of the hair (1-2cm closest to the scalp) while hair dyeing status, frequency of hair washing and covariates were reported by the women. Linear regression analyses were applied to assess the associations between HCC and hair dyeing or weekly frequency of hair washing. RESULTS No statistically significant difference (p=0.91) in HCC was found between women who dyed hair (adjusted mean: 137pg/mg [95% CI: 122,153]) and women with natural hair color (adjusted mean: 139pg/mg [95% CI: 123,155]). Frequency of hair washing was not associated with HCC (β: -3.7 [95% CI: -9.0, 1.5; P=0.20]). CONCLUSIONS This study of 266 Danish women provides no evidence in support of an association between HCC and hair dyeing status or hair washing frequency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila K Kristensen
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies at The Parker Institute, The Capital Region, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sofus C Larsen
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies at The Parker Institute, The Capital Region, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Nanna J Olsen
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies at The Parker Institute, The Capital Region, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jan Fahrenkrug
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bispebjerg Hospital, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark
| | - Berit L Heitmann
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies at The Parker Institute, The Capital Region, Copenhagen, Denmark; The National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark; The Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise & Eating Disorders, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Department of Public Health, Section for General Practice, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
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