Your browser version may not work well with NCBI's Web applications. More information here...
1: Endocrinology. 2004 Jun;145(6):2633-8. Epub 2004 Mar 24.
Related Articles, Links
Click here to read
Minireview: glucocorticoids--food intake, abdominal obesity, and wealthy nations in 2004.

Dallman MF, la Fleur SE, Pecoraro NC, Gomez F, Houshyar H, Akana SF.

Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143-0444, USA. dallman@itsa.ucsf.edu

Glucocorticoids have a major effect on food intake that is underappreciated, although the effects of glucocorticoids on metabolism and abdominal obesity are quite well understood. Physiologically appropriate concentrations of naturally secreted corticosteroids (cortisol in humans, corticosterone in rats) have major stimulatory effects on caloric intake and, in the presence of insulin, preference. We first address the close relationship between glucocorticoids and energy balance under both normal and abnormal conditions. Because excess caloric intake is stored in different fat depots, we also address the systemic effects of glucocorticoids on redistribution of stored energy preponderantly into intraabdominal fat depots. We provide strong evidence that glucocorticoids modify feeding and then discuss the role of insulin on the choice of ingested calories, as well as suggesting some central neural pathways that may be involved in these actions of glucocorticoids and insulin. Finally, we discuss the evolutionary utility of these actions of the stress hormones, and how dysregulatory effects of chronically elevated glucocorticoids may occur in our modern, rich societies.

Publication Types:
PMID: 15044359 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]