title: Low-dose dexamethasone administration for 3 weeks favorably affects plasma HDL concentration and composition but does not affect very low-density lipoprotein kinetics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Subclinical hypercortisolemia often occurs in subjects with features of the metabolic syndrome, and it has been suggested that it may be, at least in part, responsible for the development of these metabolic abnormalities. However, the metabolic effects of glucocorticoid administration to mimic subclinical glucocorticoid excess have not been evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used stable isotope-labeled tracer methods in conjunction with magnetic resonance techniques to measure the effect of glucocorticoid excess within the physiological range (~0.7 mg dexamethasone/day for 3 weeks) on glucose and free fatty acid (FFA) rates of appearance (Ra) into plasma, intrahepatic triglyceride (TG) content, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-TG and VLDL-apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB-100) kinetics and plasma lipoprotein subclass concentrations, and particle sizes in nine overweight and obese individuals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dexamethasone treatment led to a very small but significant increase in body weight (from 87.4±7.1 to 88.6±7.2 kg; P=0.003) and increased HDL-cholesterol (from 45.9±2.8 to 55.1±4.6 mg/dl; P=0.037) and HDL particle (from 33.7±2.2 to 41.4±4.2 nmol/l; P=0.023) concentrations in plasma but had no effect on intrahepatic TG content, glucose and FFA Ra in plasma, hepatic VLDL-TG and VLDL-apoB-100 secretion rates and mean residence times in the circulation, plasma TG and LDL-cholesterol concentrations, and plasma lipoprotein particle sizes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subclinical hypercortisolemia does not have significant adverse metabolic consequences.
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatrics and Nutritional Science, Washington University School of Medicine, Center for Human Nutrition, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Xuewen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Faidon
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Magkos
authors.forename: Bruce W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Dominic N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Reeds
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kampelman
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mittendorfer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D003907:Dexamethasone