Measuring cortisol and DHEA in fingernails: A pilot study
Measuring cortisol and DHEA in fingernails: A pilot study
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测量指甲中的皮质醇和 DHEA：一项试点研究
DOI：
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发表时间：
2009
影响因子：
3.2
通讯作者：
A. Young
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
F. Warnock;K. McElwee;Rubo J. Seo;Sean A. McIsaac;D. Seim;Tatiana Ramirez;K. Macritchie;A. Young
目的：皮质醇和脱氢表雄酮（DHEA）在精神疾病中的含量均有所下降。唾液、尿液和血液皮质醇和DHEA水平的分析提供了短时间内激素水平的指数。与这些常规措施不同，指甲含有内源性激素，这些激素在角质化过程中从毛细血管被动扩散到指甲基质。这项研究试验了指甲中皮质醇和DHEA水平的测量，作为他们在长时间内累积分泌类固醇激素的潜在措施。方法：33名大学生（18-24岁）在一个学期内提供了两次指甲样本。这些访问被安排在学生可能处于不同压力水平的时期，因此收集了指甲皮质醇和DHEA水平。结果如下：在应激期，指甲样本显示皮质醇：DHEA比率显著增加（P = 0.0002），这是由于DHEA水平显著降低（P = 0.004）和皮质醇水平数值上但统计学上不显著增加（P = 0.256）。讨论：这项初步研究表明，指甲可以用来测量皮质醇和脱氢表雄酮，这可能反映环境压力的措施。需要更多的工作来进一步验证这种技术，这可能会证明在健康个体和患者群体的研究中是有用的。
Purpose: Abnormalities in both cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) have been reported in psychiatric disorders. Analysis of saliva, urine and blood cortisol and DHEA levels provides an index of hormone levels over a short time period. Unlike such conventional measures, fingernails incorporate endogenous hormones that passively diffuse to the nail matrix from capillaries during keratinization. This study piloted the measurement of cortisol and DHEA levels in fingernails as a potential measure of their accumulated secretion of steroid hormones over a prolonged time period. Method: Thirty-three university students (18–24 years) provided fingernail samples on two occasions over a school semester. The visits were scheduled so nail cortisol and DHEA levels were collected from periods when students might be under different levels of stress. Results: During the putatively stressful period, the nail samples showed a significant increase in the cortisol: DHEA ratio (P = 0.0002) due to a significant decrease in the DHEA levels (P = 0.004) and a numerical but not statistically significant increase in the cortisol levels (P = 0.256). Discussion: This pilot study showed that nails can be used to measure cortisol and DHEA, a measure which may reflect environmental stress. More work is required to further validate this technique which may prove useful in studies of both healthy individuals and patient groups.
影响因子：
2.7
作者：
Davenport, Matthew D.;Tiefenbacher, Stefan;Meyer, Jerrold S.
通讯作者：
Meyer, Jerrold S.