Gender specific correlations of adrenal gland size and body fat distribution: a whole body MRI study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the gender specific correlations of stress related tissues [adrenal gland volume (AV), visceral fat] and alimentary dependent fat compartments with cortisol concentrations in healthy male and female subjects.


METHODS
Fourteen men and 13 women were examined. Fat compartments [whole body fat, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT)] were determined using whole body MRI. Adrenal gland volume was assessed by a 3D MR data set. The salivary cortisol was determined at 9 AM and 4 PM.


RESULTS
Men had significantly more visceral fat and less subcutaneous fat than women. Adrenal gland size correlated significantly with the visceral and subcutaneous fat in women (r=0.7, p=0.008), but not in men (r=0.2, p=0.4). There was a negative correlation between the decrease of cortisol between 9 AM and 4 PM with VAT (r=-0.451, p=0.027) in the whole group.


CONCLUSIONS
The high correlation between the adrenal gland volume and VAT in women underlines the link between hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, stress, and circadian cortisol rhythm, respectively, and an increased abdominal fat volume. The lack of correlation between visceral fat and adrenal volume in men points to an additional influence of sex hormones.
Ludescher
B
B
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Clinic Tuebingen, Section on Experimental Radiology, Tuebingen, Germany. burkhard.ludescher@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Najib
A
A
Baar
S
S
Machann
J
J
Thamer
C
C
Schick
F
F
Buchkremer
G
G
Claussen
C D
CD
Eschweiler
G W
GW
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000328:Adult; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D051598:Whole Body Imaging