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Altered control of cortisol secretion in adult men with low birth weight and cardiovascular risk factors

Altered control of cortisol secretion in adult men with low birth weight and cardiovascular risk factors
Altered control of cortisol secretion in adult men with low birth weight and cardiovascular risk factors
It has been suggested that increased activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis may link low birth weight with subsequent development of cardiovascular risk factors and disease. Two hundred and five men, aged 66–77 yr, who were born and still live in East Hertfordshire underwent an overnight very low dose (0.25 mg) dexamethasone suppression test followed by a low dose 1-µg ACTH-(1–24) stimulation test. A 24-h urine sample was collected for analysis of cortisol metabolites by gas chromatography/electron impact mass spectrometry.
Men with lower birth weight had enhanced responses of plasma cortisol to ACTH-(1–24) (P = 0.03), increased total urinary cortisol metabolite excretion (after adjustment for confounding effects of increased obesity and lean body mass in high birth weight men; P = 0.04), but no difference in plasma cortisol after dexamethasone. Features of the metabolic syndrome were independently associated with enhanced adrenal responsiveness to ACTH-(1–24) (raised blood pressure, P = 0.02; glucose intolerance, P = 0.09; hypertriglyceridemia, P = 0.02), with trends to increased urinary cortisol metabolite excretion, but not with differences in plasma cortisol after dexamethasone. Men with low birth weight and/or the metabolic syndrome have increased activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. This may be an important mechanism underpinning the effects of events in early life on later cardiovascular disease.
0021-972X
245-250
Reynolds, Rebecca M.
0e42554c-fafd-447c-99ec-19b024c47302
Walker, Brian R.
9001dafb-5471-4f7f-a073-c482d78f5125
Syddall, Holly E.
a0181a93-8fc3-4998-a996-7963f0128328
Andrew, Ruth
a127d25d-819a-46bb-88e1-68d7ade4fb0f
Wood, Peter J.
30039979-9541-4a0a-8aef-0dfe53114e02
Whorwood, Christopher B.
25713369-da12-4c30-8d2d-b121a349f03e
Phillips, David I. W.
29b73be7-2ff9-4fff-ae42-d59842df4cc6
Reynolds, Rebecca M.
0e42554c-fafd-447c-99ec-19b024c47302
Walker, Brian R.
9001dafb-5471-4f7f-a073-c482d78f5125
Syddall, Holly E.
a0181a93-8fc3-4998-a996-7963f0128328
Andrew, Ruth
a127d25d-819a-46bb-88e1-68d7ade4fb0f
Wood, Peter J.
30039979-9541-4a0a-8aef-0dfe53114e02
Whorwood, Christopher B.
25713369-da12-4c30-8d2d-b121a349f03e
Phillips, David I. W.
29b73be7-2ff9-4fff-ae42-d59842df4cc6

Reynolds, Rebecca M., Walker, Brian R., Syddall, Holly E., Andrew, Ruth, Wood, Peter J., Whorwood, Christopher B. and Phillips, David I. W. (2001) Altered control of cortisol secretion in adult men with low birth weight and cardiovascular risk factors. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 86 (1), 245-250.

Record type: Article

Abstract

It has been suggested that increased activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis may link low birth weight with subsequent development of cardiovascular risk factors and disease. Two hundred and five men, aged 66–77 yr, who were born and still live in East Hertfordshire underwent an overnight very low dose (0.25 mg) dexamethasone suppression test followed by a low dose 1-µg ACTH-(1–24) stimulation test. A 24-h urine sample was collected for analysis of cortisol metabolites by gas chromatography/electron impact mass spectrometry.
Men with lower birth weight had enhanced responses of plasma cortisol to ACTH-(1–24) (P = 0.03), increased total urinary cortisol metabolite excretion (after adjustment for confounding effects of increased obesity and lean body mass in high birth weight men; P = 0.04), but no difference in plasma cortisol after dexamethasone. Features of the metabolic syndrome were independently associated with enhanced adrenal responsiveness to ACTH-(1–24) (raised blood pressure, P = 0.02; glucose intolerance, P = 0.09; hypertriglyceridemia, P = 0.02), with trends to increased urinary cortisol metabolite excretion, but not with differences in plasma cortisol after dexamethasone. Men with low birth weight and/or the metabolic syndrome have increased activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. This may be an important mechanism underpinning the effects of events in early life on later cardiovascular disease.

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Published date: January 2001

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 25930
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/25930
ISSN: 0021-972X
PURE UUID: 9465b223-e1db-4db9-9fa4-fa2baf957847
ORCID for Holly E. Syddall: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-0171-0306

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Date deposited: 24 Apr 2006
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:59

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Contributors

Author: Rebecca M. Reynolds
Author: Brian R. Walker
Author: Ruth Andrew
Author: Peter J. Wood
Author: Christopher B. Whorwood
Author: David I. W. Phillips

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