Hair Cortisol Concentration in Healthy Children and Adolescents Is Related to Puberty, Age, Gender, and Body Mass Index

The study investigated hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) in a cohort of 434 children aged 5 to 18 years, examining the effects of puberty, age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) on HCC. Results indicated that prepubertal boys had significantly higher HCC than girls, but these levels converged during puberty. A higher BMI was associated with increased HCC in both genders. In boys, HCC was notably higher at Tanner stage 1 compared to stages 2-5, while in girls, HCC did not vary with Tanner stages. The study concluded that puberty, gender, and BMI significantly influenced HCC, suggesting that future research should consider these factors when assessing HCC in healthy children.