Neonatal Hair Cortisol and Birth Outcomes
An Empirical Study and Meta-Analysis
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19301775 |
|---|---|
| Authors | LillyBelle K Deer (0000-0001-9934-9381, University of Denver, corresponding author), Catherine Demers (0000-0001-7504-9843, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus), Benjamin L Hankin (0000-0003-2446-0258, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), Jenalee R Doom (0000-0003-2857-0817, University of Denver), Grant S Shields (0000-0002-0827-4669, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville), M Camille Hoffman (0000-0003-3116-4502, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus), Elysia Poggi Davis (0000-0002-4159-0102, University of Denver) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 86 |
| Issue | 8 |
| Pages | 720-729 |
| Publication date | 2024-10-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Psychosomatic Medicine (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0033-3174 • E-ISSN: 1534-7796 |
| Publisher | Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1097/psy.0000000000001339 |
| PMID | 39132972 |
| OpenAlex | W4401515775 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 79 |
OBJECTIVE: Prenatal stress physiology is often posited as a predictor of birth outcomes, including gestational age at birth and birthweight. However, research has predominantly relied on indicators in the maternal system, with few studies examining hormones of the fetal system. The current study focuses on fetal cortisol in the third trimester, as measured in neonatal hair, as a biological factor that might be associated with birth outcomes (gestational age at birth and birthweight). We report findings from two studies: a longitudinal cohort (Study 1), and a meta-analysis of the existing literature (Study 2). METHODSSTUDY: Hair was collected for cortisol analysis from 168 neonates (55.95% female) shortly after birth. Gestational age at birth and birthweight were abstracted from medical records. METHODSSTUDY: An exhaustive search of four databases was conducted, yielding 155 total studies for screening. Papers reporting neonatal hair cortisol (collection <2 weeks postpartum) and birth outcomes among human neonates were retained for analysis, including Study 1 results ( k = 9). RESULTSSTUDY: Higher neonatal hair cortisol was related to longer gestation ( r = 0.28, p < .001) and higher birthweight, r = 0.16, p = .040. Sex did not moderate either association. RESULTSSTUDY: Across the nine studies, higher neonatal hair cortisol predicted both longer gestation ( r = 0.35, p < .001, 95% confidence interval = 0.24-0.45) and higher birthweight ( r = 0.18, p = .001, 95% confidence interval = 0.07-0.28). Neonatal sex did not moderate these associations. CONCLUSIONS: Fetal cortisol exposure in the third trimester plays a role in normative maturation of the fetus, and findings reveal that higher cortisol is associated with positive birth outcomes.
Biology · Cohort study · Fetus · Gestation · Gestational age · Longitudinal study · Meta-analysis · Obstetrics · Pregnancy · Prenatal stress · Birth, Development, and Health · Internal Medicine · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Medicine · Physiology · Stress Responses and Cortisol
Constraints on Generality (COG)
Small sample adjustments for robust variance estimation with meta-regression.
In utero programming of chronic disease
Robust variance estimation in meta‐regression with dependent effect size estimates
Is there a viability–vulnerability tradeoff? Sex differences in fetal programming
Acculturation, Maternal Cortisol, and Birth Outcomes in Women of Mexican Descent
Mental health of extremely low birth weight survivors
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |