The Role of Very Low Calorie Ketogenic Diet in Sympathetic Activation through Cortisol Secretion in Male Obese Population

Journal of Clinical Medicine

Rita Polito¹  Giovanni Messina²  Giuseppe Cibelli²  Chiara Porro²  Daniela Pisanelli²  Anna Valenzano²  Alessia Scarinci³  Marcellino Monda⁴  Antonietta Messina⁴  Ines Villano⁴  Vincenzo Monda⁴ 

[1] Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy;Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71100 Foggia, Italy;Department of Education, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 71121 Bari, Italy;Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Unit of Dietetics and Sports Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy;

关键词: cortisol;    galvanic skin response (GSR);    very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD);    adipose tissue;    obesity;    sympathetic nervous system;   

DOI  :  10.3390/jcm10184230

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Adipose tissue is considered an endocrine organ, and its excess compromises the immune response and metabolism of hormones and nutrients. Furthermore, the accumulation of visceral fat helps to increase the synthesis of cortisol. The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a neuroendocrine system involved in maintaining homeostasis in humans under physiological conditions and stress, and cortisol is the main hormone of the HPA axis. It is known that a stress-induced diet and cortisol reactivity to acute stress factors may be related to dietary behavior. In obesity, to reduce visceral adipose tissue, caloric restriction is a valid strategy. In light of this fact, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of a commercial dietary ketosis program for weight loss on the sympathetic nervous system and HPA axis, through evaluation of salivary cortisol and GSR levels. Thirty obese subjects were recruited and assessed before and after 8 weeks of Very Low Calorie Ketogenic Diet (VLCKD) intervention to evaluate body composition and biochemical parameters. Salivary cortisol levels and GSR significantly decreased after dietary treatment; in addition, body composition and biochemical features were ameliorated. The VLCKD had a short-term positive effect on the SNS and HPA axes regulating salivary cortisol levels. Finally, the effects of the VLCKD on the SNS and HPA axis may lead to more individualized treatment strategies that integrate obesity and stress and support the usefulness of such therapeutic interventions in promoting the reduction of the individual disease burden.

【 授权许可】

Unknown