The detection of cortisol in human sweat: implications for measurement of cortisol in hair.
BACKGROUND
Hair cortisol analysis has been shown to be an effective measure of chronic stress. Cortisol is assumed to incorporate into hair via serum, sebum, and sweat sources; however, the extent to which sweat contributes to hair cortisol content is unknown.


METHODS
Sweat and saliva samples were collected from 17 subjects after a period of intensive exercise and analyzed by salivary enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Subsequently, an in vitro test on exposure of hair to hydrocortisone was conducted. Residual hair samples were immersed in a 50-ng/mL hydrocortisone solution for periods lasting 15 minutes to 24 hours, followed by a wash or no-wash condition. Hair cortisol content was determined using our modified protocol for a salivary ELISA.


RESULTS
Postexercise control sweat cortisol concentrations ranged from 8.16 to 141.7 ng/mL and correlated significantly with the log-transformed time of day. Sweat cortisol levels significantly correlated with salivary cortisol concentrations. In vitro hair exposure to a 50-ng/mL hydrocortisone solution (mimicking sweat) for 60 minutes or more resulted in significantly increased hair cortisol concentrations. Washing with isopropanol did not affect immersion-increased hair cortisol concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
Human sweat contains cortisol in concentrations comparable with salivary cortisol levels. This study suggests that perfuse sweating after intense exercise may increase cortisol concentrations detected in hair. This increase likely cannot be effectively decreased with conventional washing procedures and should be considered carefully in studies using hair cortisol as a biomarker of chronic stress.
*Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, †Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, and ‡Ivey Chair in Molecular Toxicology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada; §Department of Clinical Pharmacology/Toxicology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and ¶CIHR-GSK Chair in Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology, Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada.
Evan
E
Russell
Gideon
G
Koren
Michael
M
Rieder
Stan H M
SH
Van Uum
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D013542:Sweat / Q000737:chemistry*; D013546:Sweating / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D006854:Hydrocortisone