Journal article

High cortisol responses identify propensity for obesity that is linked to thermogenesis in skeletal muscle

TK Lee, IJ Clarke, J St. John, IR Young, BL Leury, A Rao, ZB Andrews, BA Henry

FASEB Journal | Published : 2014

Abstract

Subjects characterized as cortisol high responders (HRs) consume more calories after stress, but it is unknown whether cortisol responsiveness predicts a propensity for obesity. Female sheep with either high or low cortisol responses to adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) were identified. Body composition was similar in HRs and cortisol low responders (LRs), but the HRs had greater (P<0.01) adiposity than did the LRs (40.5±0.7 vs. 35.8±1.4%) after high-energy feeding, despite comparable food intake. Postprandial thermogenesis in muscle temperature was 0.8 ± 0.08°C higher in the LRs than in the HRs (P<0.01), whereas feedinginduced changes in fat temperature were similar. Leptin and insulin sensitivity..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by Australia National Health and Medical Research Council


Funding Acknowledgements

The authors thank Bruce Doughton, Lynda Morrish, and Elaine Chase for animal husbandry and technical assistance. This work was supported by the Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Support Program and by an Australia National Health and Medical Research Council project grant (1005935) to B.A.H.