Association between hair cortisol concentration and dietary intake among normal weight preschool children predisposed to overweight and obesity

Abstract

Background The association between chronically elevated cortisol, as measured by hair cortisol concentration (HCC), and dietary intake among children has generally not been explored. Moreover, it is unknown whether there is an association between parental HCC and dietary intake among their children. Objective To examine associations between HCC and dietary intake among children, and to explore the association between parental HCC and dietary intake among their children. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study based on 296 children predisposed to overweight and obesity who participated in the Healthy Start study. Multiple Linear regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between HCC and total energy intake, macronutrients, fruit and vegetables, added sugar, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), and a diet quality index (DQI). Results Among the children, we found that higher HCC was associated with a lower consumption of dietary fat (β: -0.7 g/day [95% CI: -1.3, -0.0] per 100 pg/mg HCC). We found no statistically significant association between HCC and intake of total energy, protein, carbohydrate, fruit and vegetables, added sugar, SSB or DQI. We found no association between parental HCC and intake of total energy, added sugar, selected food groups or DQI among their children. However, stratified analyses showed that paternal HCC was associated with a borderline significant lower total energy intake and significantly lower protein intake, but only among daughters (adjusted β: -42 kcal/day [95% CI: -85, 0] and -2.6 g/day [95% CI: -4.4, -0.8] per 100 pg/mg HCC, respectively). Conclusion Among children, chronic stress as measured by HCC may be associated with a lower fat consumption, and paternal HCC may be associated with a lower intake of energy and protein among their daughters. However, the associations observed were weak, and any clinical relevance of these findings remains questionable.

Associations between Parental Stress and Subsequent Changes in Dietary Intake and Quality among Preschool Children Susceptible to Obesity

“…Hair cortisol concentration is a relatively new biomarker [34,35], providing a biological measure of long-term cortisol exposure as cortisol is embedded into hair as it grows and when comparing to objective measures of parental stress, the results from this current study are in accordance with our results investigating the cross-sectional association between parental hair cortisol levels and intake of total energy, added sugar, selected food groups or DQI among their children, where we also could not demonstrate and association among 296 children [15].…”

“…This was further supported by a cross-sectional study from Bauer et al that reported that parental employment and workload contributed to decreased time to prepared meals and less frequent family meals as well as more unhealthy food choices [ 13 ]. Another cross-sectional study found that among the children, higher hair cortisol concentrations were associated with a lower consumption of dietary fat, however no association was observed between parental hair cortisol concentrations and dietary intake and quality among their children [ 15 ]. Hence, both child and parental stress level may be barriers for healthy dietary behaviours among children, which are necessary for long term weight balance.…”

Hair cortisol reduction and social integration enhancement after a mindfulness‐based intervention in children

“…In order to eliminate potential bias, the relative changes in HCC were compared within each group using the children's baseline data. It is worth noting that the HCC levels of the wait‐list group were similar to standard values corresponding to children in good health (e.g., Larsen et al, 2019) and remained unaltered throughout the school year. Interestingly, the HCC values of the experimental group reached the above‐mentioned standard levels only after participation in this year‐long intervention, given that the baseline HCC of this group was significantly higher than the standard values before taking part in the program.…”

The possible mediatory role of adipokines in the association between low carbohydrate diet and depressive symptoms among overweight and obese women

“…In this manner, Taylor and MacQueen studied the role of adipokines as anti-obesity hormones and observed that cortisol is a possible pathophysiological mediator in the excess weight gain of their study population [ 33 ]. Evidence showed that weight gain and cortisol levels have a mutual influence on each other and obesity is followed by an early increase in the intracellular levels of cortisol in adipose tissue [ 34 , 35 ]. Interestingly, it should be noted that adipokines may be dysregulated in mental disorders along with higher levels of cortisol and visceral obesity.…”