Cortisol Production Rates in Obesity

Abstract

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.