Related Experiment Videos
High density lipoprotein cholesterol is associated with serum cortisol in older people
V K Varma1, J T Rushing, W H Ettinger
1Department of Internal Medicine, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157-1051, USA.
Insights
Serum cortisol levels are associated with higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in older adults. This finding suggests a potential role for endogenous glucocorticoids in regulating HDL cholesterol levels.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Gerontology
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease risk factors are prevalent in older populations.
- Serum cortisol, an endogenous glucocorticoid, plays a role in metabolic regulation.
- Understanding cortisol's relationship with lipid profiles is crucial for cardiovascular health in aging individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between serum cortisol levels and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
- To examine relationships between cortisol, other lipoproteins, and cardiovascular risk factors in older adults.
- To explore links between cortisol, carotid atherosclerosis, and clinical heart disease.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, observational study involving 245 community-dwelling individuals aged 65-89.
- Serum cortisol measured via radioimmunoassay in morning samples after an overnight fast.
- Correlations assessed between cortisol and lipids, metabolic markers, and cardiovascular outcomes using statistical analysis and B-mode ultrasound.
Main Results:
- Serum cortisol showed a positive correlation with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (r = .21), which remained significant after adjustments.
- Cortisol levels were negatively correlated with body mass index and waist-hip ratio.
- No significant associations were found between cortisol and triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, insulin, glucose, or prevalent coronary heart disease, hypertension, or diabetes.
Conclusions:
- Endogenous glucocorticoid levels, specifically serum cortisol, are positively associated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels in older adults.
- These findings suggest a potential role for cortisol in the physiological regulation of HDL cholesterol.
- Further research may elucidate the mechanisms underlying this association and its clinical implications for cardiovascular health.
Objective:
To determine the associations between serum cortisol and HDL cholesterol, other lipoprotein lipids and cardiovascular risk factors, carotid atherosclerosis, and clinical heart disease in older people.
Design:
A cross-sectional, observational, ancillary study of the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS).
Population:
A total of 245 community-dwelling people, 65 to 89 years old, were recruited consecutively for a 2-month period from the CHS cohort in Forsyth County, North Carolina.
Methods:
Cortisol was measured by radioimmunoassay in serum collected between 7:00 and 10:00 AM after an overnight fast. Cortisol levels were correlated with lipoprotein lipids, insulin, glucose, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, prevalent coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and carotid atherosclerosis by B-mode ultrasound.
Results:
Serum cortisol was correlated negatively (r = -.24) with body mass index and waist-hip ratio (r = -.16) but was not related significantly to fasting insulin or glucose. Cortisol was not associated significantly with triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol but showed a positive correlation (r = .21) with high density lipoprotein cholesterol. The relationship between cortisol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol persisted after adjustment for gender, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, cigarette and alcohol use, triglyceride level, and diabetes. There was a trend toward a negative correlation between cortisol and measures of carotid atherosclerosis, but no significant relationship was indicated between cortisol and prevalent coronary heart disease, hypertension, or diabetes.
Conclusion:
Endogenous glucocorticoid levels correlated with HDL cholesterol levels and may play a role in the physiologic regulation of high density lipoprotein levels in older people.