Association Between Parameters of Cortisol Metabolism, Biomarkers of Minerals (Zinc, Selenium, and Magnesium), and Insulin Resistance and Oxidative Stress in Women with Obesity.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional comparative observational study.
PubMed 37039941 · doi:10.1007/s12011-023-03639-7
What was done
This cross-sectional study compared 80 women with obesity to a control group of 94 women. The authors evaluated parameters of cortisol metabolism (serum and urine cortisol, cortisol/cortisone ratio), mineral biomarkers (zinc, selenium, and magnesium in plasma, erythrocytes, and urine), and oxidative stress markers (glutathione peroxidase [GPx], superoxide dismutase [SOD], and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS]).
What was found
The abstract reports directional associations without numerical data, effect sizes, or p-values. Compared with controls, women with obesity showed higher GPx and TBARS, lower SOD, increased serum and urine cortisol, decreased levels of zinc, selenium, and magnesium (hypozincemia, hyposelenemia, hypomagnesemia), and increased urinary excretion of these minerals. The cortisol/cortisone ratio correlated negatively with erythrocyte zinc and selenium. GPx and SOD activity correlated positively with erythrocyte and plasma zinc and selenium concentrations.
Why it matters
The findings link obesity to altered cortisol dynamics and increased urinary wasting of essential trace minerals, suggesting mineral compartmentalization may track with altered endocrine and antioxidant status.
Limits
The abstract provides no raw values, effect sizes, or confidence intervals. The cross-sectional design cannot establish causality between cortisol metabolism, mineral excretion, and oxidative stress. The sample was restricted to women and did not assess longitudinal outcomes or direct clinical endpoints.
Cited by
- context Elevated cortisol levels and sleep deprivation increase the depletion of magnesium in the body.