Scalp hair samples were collected from ~59,000 adult Lifelines participants during 2A Visit 2. The main aim of hair collection was to use the samples for the assessment of hormone levels, e.g. cortisol (section: physical state).
The hair collection protocol was piloted in a subcohort of 300 participants in september 2013 (during 1A Visit 2) as an additional assessment initiated by researchers at the Department of Internal Medicine of Erasmus University, the Netherlands. During 2A visit 2 it was extended to ~59.000 participants. ~6000 samples have been analyzed for cortisol and cortisone and this data can be requested by sending an e-mail to data@lifelines.nl.
Cortisol levels are typically assessed in serum, saliva, or urine samples. However, due to the circadian rhythm of cortisol, its pulsatile secretion, and the daily variation due to changing circumstances like acute stress, these samples provide non-representative snapshots of chronic cortisol levels in the human body. For that reason, a novel non-invasive parameter to measure cortisol using scalp hair was developed1), providing the unique opportunity to measure long-term cortisol levels that reflect the mean levels of several months (since hair grows with an average of 1 cm per month). Using this technique, it is now possible to study chronic cortisol levels over time in very large cohorts2).
During 2A visit 2, participants were asked to provide a lock of hair. Nurse practitioners that assisted in the visit cut off a lock of hair close to the scalp using clean scissors. The lock of hair was placed in an envelope, clearly marked and registered, and stored at room temperature.
Participants also filled in a questionnaire about their hair, see the list of questions below.
Participants provided the following information about their hair via a questionnaire:
Questions English | Questions Dutch | Code | Variable | Assessment | Age |
what is your natural hair colour at the moment? | wat is op dit moment uw natuurlijke haarkleur? | hair_colour_adu_q_1 | hair1 | 2A | 18+ |
how often do you wash your hair a week? | hoe vaak wast u uw haren per week? | hair_wash_adu_q_1 | hair2 | 2A | 18+ |
do you regularly perspire very heavily on your head, for instance when you are playing sports, in the sauna or for some other reason? | transpireert u regelmatig zeer hevig op het hoofd, bijvoorbeeld tijdens het sporten, tijdens een bezoek aan de sauna of vanwege een andere reden? | hair_perspiration_adu_q_1 | hair3 | 2A | 18+ |
average number of days a month of severe perspiration of the head | gemiddeld aantal dagen per maand zeer hevig transpireren op het hoofd | hair_perspiration_adu_q_1_a | hair3a | 2A | 18+ |
have you used some form of corticosteroids (eg prednisone tablets, nasal spray, puffs, infusion, injection or skin creams) in the past three months? | hebt u in de afgelopen 3 maanden een vorm van corticosteroïden (bv prednisontabletten, neusspray, longpufjes, infuus, injectie of huidcremès) gebruikt? | hair_cortcosteroids_adu_q_1 | hair4 | 2A | 18+ |
tablets or capsules / how were the corticosteroids administered? | tabletten of capsules / hoe werden de corticosteroïden toegediend? | hair_cortcosteroids_adu_q_1_a | hair4a1 | 2A | 18+ |
infusion / how were the corticosteroids administered? | infuus / hoe werden de corticosteroïden toegediend? | hair_cortcosteroids_adu_q_1_b | hair4a2 | 2A | 18+ |
injection into joint, e.g. wrist, shoulder or knee / how were the corticosteroids administered? | injectie in een gewricht, bv in pols, schouder of knie / hoe werden de corticosteroïden toegediend? | hair_cortcosteroids_adu_q_1_c | hair4a3 | 2A | 18+ |
puffs (inhalation medication) / how were the corticosteroids administered? | pufjes (inhalatiemedicatie) / hoe werden de corticosteroïden toegediend? | hair_cortcosteroids_adu_q_1_d | hair4a4 | 2A | 18+ |
nasal spray / how were the corticosteroids administered? | neusspray / hoe werden de corticosteroïden toegediend? | hair_cortcosteroids_adu_q_1_e | hair4a5 | 2A | 18+ |
cream or ointment / how were the corticosteroids administered? | crème of zalf / hoe werden de corticosteroïden toegediend? | hair_cortcosteroids_adu_q_1_f | hair4a6 | 2A | 18+ |
if cream or ointment; where? / how were the corticosteroids administered? | indien crème of zalf: waar? / hoe werden de corticosteroïden toegediend? | hair_cortcosteroids_adu_q_1_f1 | hair4a6a | 2A | 18+ |
other: / how were the corticosteroids administered? | anders, nl / hoe werden de corticosteroïden toegediend? | hair_cortcosteroids_adu_q_1_g | hair4a7 | 2A | 18+ |
has your hair been dyed, coloured, bleached or permanent-waved or did you have highlights or lowlights during the past six months? | is uw haar geverfd, gekleurd, geblondeerd of gepermanent in de laatste 6 maanden of heeft u in deze periode highlights, lowlights of coupe soleil laten zetten? | hair_treatment_adu_q_1 | HAIR5 | 2A | 18+ |
bleaching / what treatment did your hair have in the past six months? | blonderen / welke behandeling heeft uw haar gehad in de laatste 6 maanden? | hair_treatment_adu_q_1_a | HAIR5A | 2A | 18+ |
when did you last bleach your hair? / what treatment did your hair have in the past six months? | wanneer heeft u voor het laatst uw haar geblondeerd? / welke behandeling heeft uw haar gehad in de laatste 6 maanden? | hair_treatment_adu_q_1_a1 | HAIR5A1 | 2A | 18+ |
highlights, lowlights or coupe soleil / what treatment did your hair have in the past six months? | highlights, lowlights of coupe soleil / welke behandeling heeft uw haar gehad in de laatste 6 maanden? | hair_treatment_adu_q_1_b | HAIR5B | 2A | 18+ |
when did you last have highlights or lowlights? / what treatment did your hair have in the past six months? | wanneer heeft u voor het laatst highlights, lowlights of coupe soleil laten zetten? / welke behandeling heeft uw haar gehad in de laatste 6 maanden? | hair_treatment_adu_q_1_b1 | HAIR5B1 | 2A | 18+ |
colouring with permanent dye / what treatment did your hair have in the past six months? | verven met permanente verf / welke behandeling heeft uw haar gehad in de laatste 6 maanden? | hair_treatment_adu_q_1_c | HAIR5C | 2A | 18+ |
when did you last colour your hair using permanent dye? / what treatment did your hair have in the past six months? | wanneer heeft u voor het laatst uw haar geverfd met permanente verf? / welke behandeling heeft uw haar gehad in de laatste 6 maanden? | hair_treatment_adu_q_1_c1 | HAIR5C1 | 2A | 18+ |
colouring with semi-permanent dye / what treatment did your hair have in the past six months? | kleuren met kleurspoeling / welke behandeling heeft uw haar gehad in de laatste 6 maanden? | hair_treatment_adu_q_1_d | HAIR5D | 2A | 18+ |
when did you last colour your hair using semi-permanent dye? / what treatment did your hair have in the past six months? | wanneer heeft u voor het laatst uw haar geverfd met kleurspoeling? / welke behandeling heeft uw haar gehad in de laatste 6 maanden? | hair_treatment_adu_q_1_d1 | HAIR5D1 | 2A | 18+ |
permanent wave / what treatment did your hair have in the past six months? | permanenten / welke behandeling heeft uw haar gehad in de laatste 6 maanden? | hair_treatment_adu_q_1_e | HAIR5E | 2A | 18+ |
when did yo last have a permanent wave? / what treatment did your hair have in the past six months? | wanneer heeft u voor het laatst uw haar gepermanent? | hair_treatment_adu_q_1_e1 | HAIR5E1 | 2A | 18+ |
Hebt u sinds de laatste keer dat u uw haar hebt gewassen een haarproduct gebruikt? | HAIR6 | Pilot | 18+ | ||
Welk haarproduct hebt u gebruikt?: Mousse | HAIR6A | Pilot | 18+ | ||
Welk haarproduct hebt u gebruikt?: Gel | HAIR6B | Pilot | 18+ | ||
Welk haarproduct hebt u gebruikt?: Wax | HAIR6C | Pilot | 18+ | ||
Welk haarproduct hebt u gebruikt?: Haarlak | HAIR6D | Pilot | 18+ | ||
Welk haarproduct hebt u gebruikt?: Anders, nl. | HAIR6E | Pilot | 18+ |