Cited by 93Stress Responses and CortisolAdrenal Hormones and DisordersAnimal Behavior and Welfare Studies

Hair cortisol and cortisone are decreased by natural sunlight

Wester, Vincent L., van der Wulp, Nils R.P., Koper, Jan W., de Rijke, Yolanda B., van Rossum, Elisabeth F.C.·2016·Psychoneuroendocrinology

Abstract

Background and aims Hair glucocorticoids (cortisol and cortisone) are increasingly used as measures of long-term integrated exposure to glucocorticoid hormones. Glucocorticoids gradually disappear from the hair shaft, which may result from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation in natural sunlight. We aimed to study the influence of sun exposure on hair glucocorticoids.Material and methods Scalp hair samples were obtained from nine volunteers (median age 33 [range 21-81], 7 females), and part of each hair sample was exposed to three experimental conditions: repeated exposure to natural sunlight for 40h (natural UV), exposure to a high amount of artificial UV radiation, and storage in the dark (control). Hair cortisol (HairF) and cortisone (HairE) were quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.Results When compared to control, HairF was decreased in 9 out of 9 hair samples after natural sunlight exposure (median decrease -3.1pg/mg or -54%, P<0.001) and artificial UV radiation (-4.7pg/mg or -75%, P=0.003). HairE decreased in 8 out of 9 samples, both after natural sunlight (-7.6pg/mg or -32%, P=0.012) and artificial UV (-10.7pg/mg or -52%, P=0.026).Conclusions Exposure to natural sunlight decreases the glucocorticoid content of scalp hair, apparently through UV radiation, and is therefore an important confounder that should be considered in studies involving the measurement of hair glucocorticoids.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.06.016

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  • Large-scale observational evidence and experimental work do not support the idea that higher hair cortisol levels from July to October reflected the impact of summer season or sunlight exposure.

    “In sum, large-scale observational evidence and experimental work do not support the idea that higher hair cortisol levels from July to October reflected the impact of summer season or sunlight exposure.”

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Authors
Wester, V. L., van der Wulp, N. R. P., Koper, J. W., de Rijke, Y. B., & van Rossum, E. F. C.
Affiliations
Erasmus MC (NL)
Venue
Psychoneuroendocrinology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-10
Volume
72
Pages
94-96
ISSN
0306-4530 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2471407510
Cited by
93
References
15
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 5 · 2014: 1
FWCI
4.90
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychoneuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (publishedVersion)
  • EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Thrasher Research Fund
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adrenal Hormones and Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
Keywords
hair cortisol, hair cortisone, daylighting, ultraviolet radiation, scalp hair, glucocorticoid metabolism
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cortisone, Female, Hair, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Middle Aged, Sunlight, Ultraviolet Rays, Young Adult

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