Leggio L, Malandrino N, Ferrulli A, Cardone S, Miceli A, Gasbarrini G, Capristo E, Addolorato G. Is cortisol involved in the alcohol-related fat mass impairment? A longitudinal clinical study.
Alcohol Alcohol 2009;
44:211-5. [PMID:
19144979 DOI:
10.1093/alcalc/agn116]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS
Subjects with chronic alcohol abuse can present several metabolic and nutritional alterations. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis may play a role in these nutritional and metabolic disorders. The goal of this study was to investigate if there is any relationship between HP-hormones and metabolic and nutritional parameters in alcoholic subjects.
METHODS
Sixteen alcoholics were considered before and after 3 months of total alcohol abstinence. HP-related hormones were determined. Nutritional and metabolic parameters were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and indirect calorimetry.
RESULTS
At baseline, a significant negative correlation was found between fat mass (FM) and cortisol (r = -0.54, P = 0.03). During abstinence, a significant increase of both body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.0001) and FM (P < 0.0001) was found at 12 weeks compared to baseline. A significant decrease of both plasma cortisol (P = 0.044) and aldosterone (P = 0.023) was found at 12 weeks compared to baseline. At 12 weeks, the significant correlation between cortisol and FM disappeared.
CONCLUSIONS
A higher HPA-axis activation-reflected by higher cortisol levels-was associated with a lower FM in alcoholics. Conversely, during total abstinence a reduced HPA-axis activity can play a role in the parallel nutritional recovery. The present results suggest a role of the HPA axis throughout cortisol both in the etiology of the alcohol-related nutritional alterations and in their recovery after a period of total alcohol abstinence.
Collapse