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Effects of Cortisol on Carbohydrate, Lipid, and Protein Metabolism: Studies of Acute Cortisol Withdrawal in Adrenocortical Failure

Medical Department M, Aarhus Sygehus and Medical Research Laboratories, Clinical Institute, Aarhus University Hospital, DK-8000 C Århus, Denmark

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Jens Juel Christiansen, Medical Department M, Aarhus Sygehus NBG, Århus University Hospital, DK-8000 C Århus, Denmark. E-mail: juel{at}dadlnet.dk.

Context: Cortisol is an important catabolic hormone, but little is known about the metabolic effects of acute cortisol deficiency.

Objective: The objective of the study was to test whether clinical symptoms of weight loss, fatigue, and hypoglycemia could be explained by altered energy expenditure, protein metabolism, and insulin sensitivity during cortisol withdrawal in adrenocortical failure.

Design, Participants, and Intervention: We studied seven women after 24-h cortisol withdrawal and during replacement control during a 3-h basal period and a 3-h glucose clamp.

Results: Cortisol withdrawal generated cortisol levels close to zero, a 10% decrease in basal energy expenditure, increased TSH and T₃ levels, and increased glucose oxidation. Whole-body glucose and phenylalanine turnover were unaltered, but forearm phenylalanine turnover was increased. During the clamp glucose, infusion rates rose by 70%, glucose oxidation rates increased, and endogenous glucose production decreased. Urinary urea excretion decreased by 40% over the 6-h study period.

Conclusions: Cortisol withdrawal increased insulin sensitivity in terms of increased glucose oxidation and decreased endogenous glucose production; this may induce hypoglycemia in adrenocortical failure. Energy expenditure and urea loss decreased, indicating that weight and muscle loss in Addison’s disease is caused by other mechanisms, such as decreased appetite. Increased muscle protein breakdown may amplify the loss of muscle protein.