The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · 1962 · 72 citations · 0 references
Life SciencesEndocrinologyPhysiologyMetabolic PhysiologyMetabolismSteroid BiochemistryAdipose TissueAnthropometric VariationBody CompositionBody Composition ChangesHormone MetabolismMetabolic RateCortisol MetabolismCortisol SynthesisIsotope DilutionIsotope Dilution AnalysisIsotope Dilution Mass SpectrometryObesity PhysiologyStable Isotope Dilution AnalysisSurface Area
Cortisol production rates were determined in 22 obese and in 12 normal subjects by the isotope dilution method, using cortisol-4-C14. Cortisol production rates in the obese were significantly higher (23.9±6.0 mg/24 hr) than in the normal subjects (16.1 ±6.5 mg/24 hr). After adjusting for differences in surface area, the production rates were still significantly higher in the obese subjects, but after adjusting for body weight such a difference was not demonstrable, the production rates in the obese (0.222±0.058 mg/kg/24 hr) approximating those of the normals (0.214 ± 0.067 mg/kg/24 hr). It was concluded that under normal conditions the production of cortisol in the adult is proportional to body weight.