The life of Rain: cortisol

Cortisol, also known more formally as hydrocortisone, is a steroid hormone, more specifically a glucocorticoid, produced by the zona fasciculata of the adrenal gland. It is released in response to stress and a low level of blood glucocorticoids

Cortisol affects many different body systems. It plays a role in:

Bone
Circulatory system
Immune system
Metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and protein
Nervous system
Stress responses

Conditions which change cortisol levels are:

abnormal ACTH levels
clinical depression
extremes of ambient temperature
psychological stress
hypoglycemia
trauma
surgery
pain
physical exertion
illness
fever
fear

Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced in the cortex of the adrenal glands. Cortisol assists you in regulating blood pressure, cardiovascular functions, and your body’s use of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Cortisol is also involved in glucose metabolism, insulin release for blood sugar maintenance, and inflammatory response. Cortisol helps in responding to and coping with stress, trauma and environmental extremes. Normal levels of cortisol increases energy and metabolism and helps regulate blood pressure. Cortisol also enhances the integrity of blood vessels and reduces allergic and inflammatory responses. [Aeron Biotechnology, 2010]

Cortisol regulates energy by selecting the right type and amount of substrate (carbohydrate, fat or protein) that is needed by the body to meet the physiological demands that is placed upon it. Cortisol mobilizes energy by tapping into the body’s fat stores (in the form of triglycerides) and moving it from one location to another, or delivering it to hungry tissues such as working muscle. Under stressful conditions, cortisol can provide the body with protein for energy production through gluconeogenesis, the process of converting amino acids into useable carbohydrate (glucose) in the liver. Additionally, it can move fat from storage depots and relocate it to fat cell deposits deep in the abdomen. Cortisol also aids adipocytes (baby fat cells) to grow up into mature fat cells. Finally, cortisol may act as an anti-inflammatory agent, suppressing the immune system during times of physical and psychological stress.

Cortisol directly effects fat storage and weight gain in stressed individuals. Tissue cortisol concentrations are controlled by a specific enzyme that converts inactive cortisone to active cortisol. This particular enzyme is located in adipose (fat) tissues. Studies with human visceral (fat surrounding the stomach and intestines) and subcutaneous fat tissue have demonstrated that the gene for this enzyme is expressed more by obese conditions. It has also been demonstrated in research that human visceral fat cells have more of these enzymes compared to subcutaneous fat cells. Thus, higher levels of these enzymes in these deep fat cells surrounding the abdomen may lead to obesity due to greater amounts of cortisol being produced at the tissue level. As well, deep abdominal fat has greater blood flow and four times more cortisol receptors compared to subcutaneous fat. This may also increase cortisol’s fat accumulating and fat cell size enlarging effect.

Small increases of cortisol produce positive effects like improved memory, reduced sensitivity to pain, and increased sustained energy. However, elevated cortisol levels from prolonged or chronic stress can cause side effects such as suppression of thyroid function, cognitive impairment, increased blood pressure, decreased bone density, and blood sugar imbalances. High levels of cortisol can also lower your immunity and inflammatory responses, as well as slow down the wound healing process. [Cortisol and The Stress Connection. John R. Lee, M.D. and Virginia Hopkins Virginia Hopkins Health Watch, One-to-One Inc., 2009]

Cortisol has been termed the "stress hormone" because excess cortisol is secreted during times of physical or psychological stress, and the normal pattern of cortisol secretion (with levels highest in the early morning and lowest at night) can be altered. This disruption of cortisol secretion may not only promote weight gain, but it can also affect where you put on the weight. Some studies have shown that stress and elevated cortisol tend to cause fat deposition in the abdominal area rather than in the hips. This fat deposition has been referred to as "toxic fat" since abdominal fat deposition is strongly correlated with the development of cardiovascular disease including heart attacks and strokes.

Now if all of this wasn't enough to make you about your levels of cortisol and how it's affecting you, here's a little more. High levels of cortisol affect vitamin D absorption. You know, that feel good, have energy vitamin people in the south get from the sun and those of us in the north get from a doctor prescribed pill.

A special class of hormones called glucocorticoids is known to decrease expression of vitamin D receptor. The most well known glucocorticoid is cortisol.

The Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics and Nutritional Science, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis released a study showing that depressed patients were 11 times more likely to have low levels of Vitamin D. They also determined that low levels of Vitamin D were associated with low mood and also not being able to complete certain mental tests.

Other current research being done on Vitamin D is showing that a deficiency in this vitamin may also play a role in 17 varieties of cancer (including breast, colon and prostate cancer) heart disease, stroke, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, muscle wasting, birth defects and periodontal disease. If you're interested, you can read some of the studies on Vitamin D research from the VitaminD Council

Now I for one know how I feel when my vitamin D levels are low. So, you combine that with the negative effects of high cortisone levels and suddenly I begin to understand at least one of the reasons I have low energy and store most of my fat in my gut. I have lived a VERY high stress life.

Cortisol isn't all bad. In fact it's very important for some things, essential even. There are a few things that this “stress hormone” does that are very positive. It helps to reduce inflammation, and chemical reproductions of this hormone are called hydrocortisone. Hydrocortisone can be used topically to treat inflammatory skin condition or it can be used in injectable form to reduce inflamed tissue. It’s a very beneficial treatment under many circumstances.

Additional benefits of cortisol include its ability to make sure needed sodium is not lost. It can also be helpful in increasing short-term memory. Another function of cortisol is to help the liver remove toxins from the body.

Functions and health benefits of cortisol

Cortisol is very important for keeping humans alive. Cortisol is responsible for maintaining our ability to process sugars, maintain our blood pressure and react to stress and illness. Cortisol helps the body respond to stress. During times of stress, cortisol levels increase and accelerate the breakdown of proteins to provide the fuel to maintain body functions. It acts as a physiological antagonist to insulin by promoting breakdown of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins and so mobilizing energy reserves. In addition, immune and inflammatory cells have their responses to stress attenuated by cortisol. Cortisol is known to stimulate gluconeogenesis (creation of glucose) to ensure an adequate fuel supply. It also makes fatty acids available for metabolic use. It increases mobilization of free fatty acids, making them a more available energy source, and decreases glucose utilization, sparing it for the brain. Cortisol stimulate protein catabolism to release amino acids for use in repair, enzyme synthesis, and energy production. Cortisol also act as an anti-inflamatory agent. It depresses immune reactions, and increases the vasoconstriction caused by epinephrine. Cortisol reduces the reserves of protein in all body cells except cells of the liver and gastrointestinal tract.

As an oral or injectable drug, cortisol is also known as hydrocortisone. Hydrocortisone relieves inflammation (swelling, heat, redness, and pain) and is used to treat certain forms of arthritis; skin, blood, kidney, eye, thyroid, and intestinal disorders (e.g., colitis); severe allergies; and asthma. Hydrocortisone is also used to treat certain types of cancer. It is used as an immunosuppressive drug, given by injection in the treatment of severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis and angioedema, in place of prednisolone in patients who need steroid treatment but cannot take oral medication, and peri-operatively in patients on long-term steroid treatment to prevent an Addisonian crisis. Hydrocortisone may be applied to the skin to treat mild to severe inflammation and itching that results from conditions such as diaper rash, insect bites, allergic reactions, eczema, and psoriasis. Hydrocortisone lessens the body's response to an allergen, reducing swelling, redness, itching, and other symptoms.

I've read a saying in multiple different places, I have no idea who said it first. In all things seek balance. I suppose levels of cortisol are no exception. We all know stress is bad for us. Unfortunetly for many it is an an unavoidable side effect of life. Seek balance.

Sources:

The life of Rain

Sunday, September 2, 2012

cortisol

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