Comparative steroid profiling of newborn hair and umbilical cord serum highlights the role of fetal adrenals, placenta, and pregnancy outcomes in fetal steroid metabolism

Previous steroid hormone studies concerning pregnancy and newborns have mainly focused on glucocorticoids; wider steroid profiles have been less commonly investigated. Here, we performed a comparative analysis of 17 steroids from newborn hair and umbilical cord serum at the time of delivery. The study participants (n = 42, 50% girls) were a part of the Kuopio Birth Cohort and represent usual Finnish pregnancies. The hair and cord serum samples were analyzed with liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry and triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. We detected high individual variations in steroid hormone concentrations in both sample matrices. The concentrations of cortisol (F), corticosterone (B), estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), 11β-hydroxyandostenedione (11bOHA4), 5α-androstanedione (DHA4), and 17α-hydroxypregnenolone (17OHP5) correlated positively between cord serum and newborn hair samples. In addition, F and 11bOHA4 concentrations correlated positively with each other in both newborn hair and cord serum samples. The cortisone-to-cortisol ratio (E/F) was significantly higher in cord serum than in newborn hair samples reflecting high placental 11βHSD2 enzyme activity. Only minor sex differences in steroid concentrations were observed; higher testosterone (T) and 11-deoxycortisol (S) with lower 11bOHA4 in male cord serum, and higher DHEA, androstenedione (A4) and 11bOHA4 in female newborn hair samples. Parity and delivery mode were the most significant pregnancy- and birth-related parameters associating with F and some other adrenocortical steroid concentrations. This study provides novel information about intrauterine steroid metabolism in late pregnancy and typical concentration ranges for several newborn hair steroids, including also 11-oxygenated androgens. •Correlations between hair and umbilical cord serum concentrations of most steroids.•Positive correlations between F and 11bOHA4 levels in both hair and cord serum.•A higher E/F-ratio in cord serum than hair reflects high placental 11βHSD2 activity.•Parity and delivery mode associated with F concentrations in both sample types.