Open AccessIncreased Cortisol Bioavailability, Abdominal Obesity, and the Metabolic Syndrome in Obese Women
Author(s) -
Duclos Martine,
Pereira Patricia Marquez,
Barat Pascal,
Gatta Blandin,
Roger Patrick
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
obesity research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1550-8528
pISSN - 1071-7323
DOI - 10.1038/oby.2005.137
Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , abdominal obesity , obesity , dexamethasone , waist , waist–hip ratio , glucocorticoid , hydrocortisone
Objective : This study was conducted to obtain a detailed profile of hypothalamo‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis activity and reactivity and its differential relationships with body fat distribution and total fat mass in premenopausal obese women. Research Methods and Procedures : Cortisol responses to stimulation (awakening, food intake, exercise) and suppression (0.25 mg dexamethasone), cortisol metabolism, and tissue sensitivity to glucocorticoids were studied in 53 premenopausal obese women grouped according to their waist‐to hip ratio: women with abdominal body fat distribution (A‐BFD; n = 31) and women with peripheral fat distribution (P‐BFD; n = 22). Results : Comparatively, A‐BFD women had 1) lower awakening salivary cortisol levels; 2) increased salivary responsiveness to a standardized lunch; 3) similar pituitary sensitivity to dexamethasone but decreased sensitivity of monocytes to dexamethasone; 4) similar 24‐hour urinary free cortisol but increased 24‐hour urinary ratio of cortisone‐to‐cortisol; and 5) no difference in corticosteroid binding protein parameters. Discussion : Although abdominal obesity is not very different from generalized obesity in terms of HPA function, subtle variations in HPA axis activity and reactivity are evidenced in A‐BFD premenopausal obese women.