Influence of Hormonal Profile on Resting Metabolic Rate in Normal, Overweight and Obese Individuals

Abstract

Aims: To investigate whether blood thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), cortisol, insulin and glucose concentrations (plus glucose:insulin ratio; GIR) could improve the accuracy of resting metabolic rate (RMR) prediction in normal, overweight and obese persons. Methods: Predictive equations were developed and compared against indirect calorimetry measures for RMR in 217 weight-control clinic participants (n = 128 males and n = 89 females: ∼24% normal weight, ∼39% overweight and ∼37% obese). Results: Using the common accuracy criteria of the proportion of predicted RMR within ±10% of measured RMR, our equations (using age, height, weight and gender, plus the blood factors, both independently and in combination) were accurate ∼36-44% of the time, for the whole sample, and when separated by gender and weight class. Specifically, the addition of the blood hormone and glucose concentrations improved the accuracy of predicted RMR by only 1-8% (NS). Conclusions: Including blood TSH, cortisol, insulin, glucose and GIR into RMR prediction equations did not significantly improve estimation accuracy, which in any case only met a criterion of ±10% of the measured RMR ∼40% of the time. Further work to refine the prediction of RMR is still needed, and at present, direct measurements should be made wherever possible.

Influence of segmental body composition and adiposity hormones on resting metabolic rate and substrate utilization in overweight and obese adults

“…While the exact contributing factors to these differences are still under debate, differences in hormonal status are likely a strong contributor, especially in premenopausal women. Hormones such insulin, leptin, estradiol, and cortisol vary with body fat distribution and are important regulators of energy balance and substrate availability [16,17]. In the current study, a higher RMR was associated with cortisol and estradiol in men, while insulin was associated with RMR in women.…”

“…In the current study, a higher RMR was associated with cortisol and estradiol in men, while insulin was associated with RMR in women. It is known that insulin and cortisol are important regulators of glucose metabolism [17], but previous studies have reported weak correlations between insulin, cortisol, and RMR [18,17,6]. Female-specific associations between insulin and RMR have been previously reported by Astrup et al [6] (R=0.47) and Wright et al [17] (R=0.35), but both studies reported little benefit for predicting metabolic rate.…”

“…It is known that insulin and cortisol are important regulators of glucose metabolism [17], but previous studies have reported weak correlations between insulin, cortisol, and RMR [18,17,6]. Female-specific associations between insulin and RMR have been previously reported by Astrup et al [6] (R=0.47) and Wright et al [17] (R=0.35), but both studies reported little benefit for predicting metabolic rate. Higher insulin levels should also be associated with greater carbohydrate metabolism [6], as was shown in the current study in the association with a higher RER in men.…”

“…Visceral fat, specifically, has been shown be more metabolically active than subcutaneous fat and is highly associated with insulin resistance, reduced resting fat oxidation, and poor metabolic flexibility [13–15]. Visceral fat is also associated with higher insulin and cortisol levels, which are important hormones in glucose metabolism [16,17]. Alternatively, subcutaneous fat is associated with higher leptin and estradiol levels, which are associated with greater fat oxidation [16], but the relationship between adiposity-associated hormones and metabolic rate has not been thoroughly investigated.…”

Vitamin D Status and Resting Metabolic Rate May Modify through Expression of Vitamin D Receptor and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator-1 Alpha Gene in Overweight and Obese Adults

“…BMR, which is a character of the resting metabolism and is exactly associated with obesity [3]. Researchers recommended a new predictive equation for estimating resting metabolic rate (RMR) using demographics (race, age, height, weight, gender), and other biological indices (adipose tissue, fat-free mass) [4-6]. In addition, vitamin D status has been found to be a new independent predictor of RMR in adults [7].…”