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Horm Metab Res 2001; 33(1): 39-43
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-12625
Original Clinical
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

The Pituitary Response to Ovine Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone is Enhanced in Obese Men and Correlates with Insulin Resistance

M. P.  Solano1 , M. Kumar2 , B. Fernandez, L. Jones, R. B. Goldberg1
  • 1 Department of Medicine, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
  • 2 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
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Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)

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Hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in central obesity has been demonstrated in women. We studied the corticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol response to ovine corticotropin releasing hormone (oCRH) and its association to parameters of adiposity and insulin resistance in a group of 19 healthy obese (BMI > 25 kg/m2 ) and 9 non-obese men. Relative insulin resistance was assessed by the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA IR). Baseline ACTH was similar, while cortisol was lower in the obese group. The ACTH response to oCRH was significantly higher in the obese group. ACTH incremental area under the curve (iAUC) correlated with age, HOMA IR, and sagittal diameter but not with leptin. In multiple regression analysis, only HOMA IR was an independent predictor of ACTH iAUC. In conclusion, obese men have hyperactivity of the HPA axis at the pituitary level, which appears to be linked to insulin resistance.

Key words: HPA Axis - Insulin Resistance - Central Obesity

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M. P. Solano

Department of Medicine

University of Miami School of Medicine
1450 NW 10th Avenue R-77
Miami, FL 33136
USA


Phone: Phone:+ 1 (305) 243-2328

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Email: E-mail:msolano@med.miami.edu