Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2007) 13 P193

1Paediatric Endocrinology, Charite Campus Virchow, Charite University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany; 2Clinical Endocrinology, Charite Campus Mitte, Charite University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany; 3Department of Nutrition and Health, Research Institute of Child Nutrition, Dortmund, Germany; 4Steroid Research Unit, Center of Child and Adolescent Medicine, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany; 5Division of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.


Objective: The incidence of childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes has reached epidemic proportions. Glucocorticoid excess causes central obesity and diabetes mellitus as seen in Cushing’s syndrome. The 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 enzyme (11beta-HSD1), which is predominantly expressed in liver and adipose tissue, regenerates active cortisol from inactive cortisone. Altered 11beta-HSD1 may cause tissue-specific Cushing syndrome with central obesity and impaired glucose homeostasis.

Design, patients and methods: Clinical and laboratory characteristics, and anthropometric measurements were determined in 15 male and 6 female obese pubertal children (aged 12–18 y). In addition, analysis of 24 h excretion rates of glucocorticoids were performed in 21 obese and age- and sex-matched non-obese children using gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis.

Results: 11beta-HSD1 activity (urinary THF+5alphaTHF/THE ratio) was lower in obese compared to non-obese boys. In addition, obese children had a higher total cortisol metabolite excretion than non-obese children. 11beta-HSD1 activity was significantly related to age in lean and obese children. Standard deviation score (SDS)-BMI did not correlate with 11beta-HSD1 activity, or with total cortisol metabolite excretion within each group. In obese children, 11beta-HSD1 activity was significantly associated with low density lipoprotein (LDL) (P<0.01) and abdominal circumference (P<0.05). But 11beta-HSD1 activity and total cortisol metabolite excretion showed no correlation to waist-to-hip ratio, fat mass (% of body mass), or insulin resistance index (HOMA) in obese children.

Also 11beta-HSD2 activity (urinary free F/ free E ratio) significantly correlated to abdominal circumference in obese children. We did not find a gender difference regarding 11beta-HSD1 or −2 activities.

Conclusions: In conclusion, our findings strongly suggest that 11beta-HSD1 activity increases with age and is reduced in obese boys. In addition, obese children have a higher total cortisol metabolites excretion suggesting a stimulated HPA axis.

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