Work

Modifying influence of dietary sugar in the relationship between cortisol and visceral adipose tissue in minority youth

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Cortisol has been associated with preferential visceral adipose tissue (VAT) deposition; however, findings in humans are mixed, which may be clarified when diet is considered. DESIGN AND METHODS: Participants included 165 African-American and Latino, overweight adolescents (BMI% 97.2±3.2%, ages 13-18, 67% Latino, 66% female). Body composition was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, abdominal fat depots [VAT, subcutaneous (SAT)] by multiple-slice MRI, time-controlled serum sample to measure cortisol, and 2-day multi-pass 24-hour dietary recall. Linear regression analysis examined the cross-sectional relationship between cortisol, and the interaction of diet and cortisol on adiposity measures. Sex, race, age, and total body fat were a priori covariates. RESULTS: There was a significant interaction between cortisol and sugar (total and added) in the prediction of VAT (P(interaction) ≤ 0.05). Amongst participants with high total or added-sugar intake, cortisol was significantly associated with VAT (ß = 0.031 P < 0.001; ß = 0.026 P < 0.001), with no relationship in low consumers of total or added-sugar. CONCLUSION: Dietary sugar may play an important role in modifying the relationship between cortisol and VAT, such that cortisol is significantly associated with elevated VAT under conditions of high sugar intake.

Source: Obesity

DOI: 10.1002/oby.20594

Authors: Lauren E. Gyllenhammer, Marc J. Weigensberg, Donna Spruijt-Metz, Hooman Allayee, Michael I. Goran, Jaimie N. Davis

Institutions: University of Southern California, The University of Texas at Austin

Language: English

Topic: Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze