Altered homeostasis of systemic glucocorticoids as related to obesity, glucose tolerance, and smoking.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is supposed to be involved in the pathogenesis of the metabolic disorders. Differences in adipose tissues and parameters of insulin resistance are linked to steroid homeostasis. We assessed the correlation of fat tissue distribution, gender, and glucose control with levels of systemic corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG), free cortisol (FuF), and total cortisol (FuM). Data of 1 114 patients with overweight, lipid disorders, and impaired glucose tolerance were collected. Blood samples were sorted according to gender and anthropometric measures. Variable-association was calculated using the Spearman Rank Correlation coefficient and tested for significance (p