Biorhythm of plasma cortisol in obesity
Iacobelli, A.; Vecci, E.; Ricci, C.; Agostino, A.; Porcari, S.; Ciampalini, L.
Bollettino della Societa Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale 51(21): 1531-1536
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-8771 PMID: 1231837 Document Number: 92689
Circadian plasma values for cortisol in 20 human patients with essential obesity were compared with normal values, and the results were statistically evaluated by the Student t test. In the hypertensive forms of obesity there was a significant increase of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids of the plasma, daily cortisol secretion and urinary excretion of glycoactive metabolites. In 7 patients abnormal cortisolemic peaks were observed in the afternoon, evening and at night, indicating an abnormal activation of ACTH secretion. Certain abnormalities of endocrine-metabolic homeostasis are probably secondary phenomena of the disease and tend to return to normal when normal weight is restored. These changes may to some extent be correlated with changes in the biorhythm of the catecholamines, because of the effect of these substances on the reticular system that regulates secretion of ACTH.