Influence of cortisol on zinc metabolism in morbidly obese women.
BACKGROUND
The accumulation of visceral fat affects the metabolism of hormones and some nutrients, but these mechanisms remain unclear.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the influence of cortisol on the metabolism of zinc in morbidly obese women.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, case-control study involving 80 women aged between 20 and 59 years. The participants were divided into two groups: experimental (morbidly obese, n = 40) and control (normal weight, n = 40). Zinc concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy and serum and urinary cortisol by chemiluminescence method.


RESULTS
Zinc intake was significantly different between groups. Mean plasma zinc was lower in obese compared to control group. Mean values for erythrocyte zinc were 44.52 ± 7.84 µg/gHb and 40.17 ± 6.71 µg/gHb for obese and control groups, respectively. Urinary excretion of this mineral was higher in obese compared to control subjects (p < 0.05). Mean values for plasma cortisol were 9.58 ± 4.86 µg/dL for obese and 9.89 ± 5.61 µg/dL for control groups. Mean values for urinary cortisol were 163.00 ± 100.35 µg/dL and 109.71 ± 34.88 µg/dL for obese and control groups, respectively (p > 0.05). The correlation analysis between cortisol and zinc was not significant (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Obese patients have hypozincemia and high erythrocyte zinc levels. The correlation between zinc parameters and cortisol concentration showed no influence of this hormone on zinc metabolism.
Departamento de Nutrición. Universidad Federal del Piauí. Teresina. Piauí. Brasil.. dilina.marreiro@gmail.com.
Luana
L
Mota Martins
Ana Raquel
AR
Soares de Oliveira
Kyria Jayanne
KJ
Clímaco Cruz
Camila Guedes
CG
Borges de Araújo
Francisco Erasmo
FE
de Oliveira
Gustavo
G
Santos de Sousa
Nadir
N
do Nascimento Nogueira
Dilina
D
do Nascimento Marreiro
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine
D015032:Zinc; D006854:Hydrocortisone