Effects of prednisolone on energy and fat metabolism in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: tissue‐specific insulin resistance with commonly used prednisolone doses

Abstract

Prednisolone does not alter energy expenditure. However, even at low doses, prednisolone exerts adverse effects on fat metabolism, which could exacerbate insulin resistance and increase cardiovascular risk. Attenuated postprandial suppression of fat oxidation, but not lipolysis, suggests that prednisolone causes greater insulin resistance in skeletal muscle than in adipocytes.