High-density lipoproteins and adrenal steroidogenesis: A population-based study

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Lipid Metabolism

Background:

• High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) may be a crucial cholesterol source for adrenal steroidogenesis.
• Previous studies suggested impaired adrenal function in men with low HDL-C, but not in women.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between glucocorticoid production and HDL-C levels in a general population cohort.
• To determine if low HDL-C is associated with altered adrenal function.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 240 participants (120 men, 120 women, aged 20-79) without comorbidities.
• Measured 24-hour urinary glucocorticoid metabolites (TGP) using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
• Assayed fasting plasma (apo)lipoproteins using standard methods.

Main Results:

• Total glucocorticoid production (TGP) tended to increase in subjects with low HDL-C.
• TPG showed an inverse correlation with HDL-C and apoA-I in univariate analysis.
• Multivariable analysis confirmed an inverse relationship between TGP and HDL-C, even after adjusting for age, sex, smoking, and metabolic syndrome components.

Conclusions:

• Urinary glucocorticoid metabolite excretion is inversely associated with HDL-C in the general population.
• This study found no evidence supporting an attenuated adrenal function in individuals with low HDL-C.