Impact of weight loss on cortisol secretion in obese men with and without metabolic syndrome features

SummaryBackground and aimDisturbances in cortisol metabolism have been associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of weight loss induced by an energy-restricted diet on postprandial cortisol secretion in obese men with and without metabolic syndrome features.Methods and resultsTwelve obese men (BMI: 32.5–36.2 kg/m2), six without and six with at least three markers of metabolic syndrome, and six lean men (BMI: 22.2–24.9 kg/m2) participated. Plasma cortisol was measured at fasting and at 30 min intervals for 3 h after standard breakfast intake. Obese volunteers repeated those measurements after weight loss induced by a 10-week hypocaloric balanced diet. Fasting (p = 0.002) and postprandial (p = 0.014) cortisol secretions in obese men were statistically lower than in lean subjects. The slimming program produced a −0.9 kg per week mean weight reduction with no differences between both groups (p = 0.297). After weight loss, postprandial cortisol secretion increased in volunteers with (p = 0.028) and without metabolic syndrome manifestations (p = 0.043), as compared to baseline, achieving values near to those of controls. Cortisol levels negatively correlated with body weight (r = −0.61; p < 0.001).ConclusionsTherefore, the effect of weight loss on cortisol metabolism appeared to be mediated by changes in body weight, which were apparently not affected by the occurrence of metabolic syndrome features.