Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To relate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning and HPA feedback functioning to body fat distribution in normal weight to obese subjects.
PATIENTS: 91 men and 103 women [age 18-45 years, BMI 19-35 kg/m(2), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) 0.6-1.1].
MEASUREMENTS: Anthropometry, body composition using hydrodensitometry and deuterium dilution method, cortisol variability by measuring 5-h cortisol concentrations, HPA axis feedback functioning using a dexamethasone suppression test, and HPA axis functioning under a challenged condition consisting of a standardized high-intensity test with ingestion of 4 mg dexamethasone.
RESULTS: In men, an inverse relationship was observed between 5-h cortisol exposure (nmol/ml) and fat mass index (FMI) (kg/m(2)) (r = -0.55, P < 0.001). In women, relationships were observed between 5-h cortisol exposure (nmol/ml.min) and WHR (r = -0.49, P < 0.001), maximal workload (r = 0.32, P < 0.001) as well as oral contraceptive use (r = 0.38, P < 0.001). Similarly, in men, an inverse relationship was observed between negative feedback expressed as baseline concentrations minus post dexamethasone cortisol concentrations (nmol/ml) and FMI (r = -0.53, P < 0.001). In women, relationships were observed between negative feedback expressed as baseline concentrations minus post dexamethasone cortisol concentrations (nmol/ml) and WHR (r = -0.43, P < 0.001), maximal workload (r = 0.30, P < 0.001) as well as oral contraceptive use (r = 0.43, P < 0.001) in women. Moreover, an inverse relationship was observed between HPA axis functioning in a challenged condition expressed as percentage increase of cortisol concentrations after standardized high-intensity test with ingestion of 4 mg dexamethasone (%) and waist circumference (r = -0.21, P < 0.10) in men and WHR (r = -0.21, P < 0.05) in women. In men, strong positive relationships were observed between FMI and waist circumference (r = 0.85, P < 0.001), as well as waist-to-hip ratio (r = 0.70, P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: Disturbance of HPA axis functioning under basal and challenged conditions is related to visceral fat accumulation.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 738-43 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Clinical endocrinology |
Volume | 72 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2010 |
Keywords
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Body Composition
- Body Fat Distribution
- Body Mass Index
- Dexamethasone/administration & dosage
- Exercise Test
- Female
- Humans
- Hydrocortisone/analysis
- Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/drug effects
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Physical Exertion/drug effects
- Pituitary-Adrenal System/drug effects
- Saliva/chemistry
- Waist Circumference/physiology
- Young Adult