Time-course changes in fingernail cortisol levels during pregnancy and postpartum
Abstract The cortisol level in fingernails can reflect the cumulative hormones produced in the body several months prior. However, previous studies have only demonstrated the cross-sectional associations of fingernail cortisol with salivary or hair cortisol, and not longitudinal changes in fingernai...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-51650-2 |
| _version_ | 1827382302947147776 |
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| author | Shuhei Izawa Mikiko Kawasaki Nagisa Sugaya Shusaku Nomura |
| author_facet | Shuhei Izawa Mikiko Kawasaki Nagisa Sugaya Shusaku Nomura |
| author_sort | Shuhei Izawa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The cortisol level in fingernails can reflect the cumulative hormones produced in the body several months prior. However, previous studies have only demonstrated the cross-sectional associations of fingernail cortisol with salivary or hair cortisol, and not longitudinal changes in fingernail cortisol in situations where cortisol levels in the body could be expected to change. Therefore, this study focused on pregnancy as a model for changes in cortisol levels over a prolonged period of time, and investigating the time courses of fingernail cortisol during pregnancy and the postpartum period. We collected nail samples from 30 healthy women during pregnancy and 12 months postpartum to measure the cortisol levels in the nail. Results showed that cortisol levels in fingernail clippings increased from 1 month before childbirth to 4 months postpartum, with the levels peaking at 2 months postpartum. Additionally, we found higher cortisol levels in fingernail clippings in primiparas than in those of multiparas. The time course of fingernail cortisol levels could replicate the longitudinal changes in cortisol in the body, and differences between multiparas and primiparas seemed to be biologically plausible, which could support the concept of fingernail cortisol as a retrospective index of hormone production. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:17:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d9a8d326813545aa8ef1c901c61c2ceb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:17:38Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-d9a8d326813545aa8ef1c901c61c2ceb2024-01-14T12:18:40ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-01-011411710.1038/s41598-024-51650-2Time-course changes in fingernail cortisol levels during pregnancy and postpartumShuhei Izawa0Mikiko Kawasaki1Nagisa Sugaya2Shusaku Nomura3Occupational Stress and Health Management Research Group, National Institute of Occupational Safety and HealthGraduate School of Medicine, International University of Health and WelfareOccupational Stress and Health Management Research Group, National Institute of Occupational Safety and HealthFaculty of Engineering, Nagaoka University of TechnologyAbstract The cortisol level in fingernails can reflect the cumulative hormones produced in the body several months prior. However, previous studies have only demonstrated the cross-sectional associations of fingernail cortisol with salivary or hair cortisol, and not longitudinal changes in fingernail cortisol in situations where cortisol levels in the body could be expected to change. Therefore, this study focused on pregnancy as a model for changes in cortisol levels over a prolonged period of time, and investigating the time courses of fingernail cortisol during pregnancy and the postpartum period. We collected nail samples from 30 healthy women during pregnancy and 12 months postpartum to measure the cortisol levels in the nail. Results showed that cortisol levels in fingernail clippings increased from 1 month before childbirth to 4 months postpartum, with the levels peaking at 2 months postpartum. Additionally, we found higher cortisol levels in fingernail clippings in primiparas than in those of multiparas. The time course of fingernail cortisol levels could replicate the longitudinal changes in cortisol in the body, and differences between multiparas and primiparas seemed to be biologically plausible, which could support the concept of fingernail cortisol as a retrospective index of hormone production.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-51650-2 |
| spellingShingle | Shuhei Izawa Mikiko Kawasaki Nagisa Sugaya Shusaku Nomura Time-course changes in fingernail cortisol levels during pregnancy and postpartum Scientific Reports |
| title | Time-course changes in fingernail cortisol levels during pregnancy and postpartum |
| title_full | Time-course changes in fingernail cortisol levels during pregnancy and postpartum |
| title_fullStr | Time-course changes in fingernail cortisol levels during pregnancy and postpartum |
| title_full_unstemmed | Time-course changes in fingernail cortisol levels during pregnancy and postpartum |
| title_short | Time-course changes in fingernail cortisol levels during pregnancy and postpartum |
| title_sort | time course changes in fingernail cortisol levels during pregnancy and postpartum |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-51650-2 |
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