Role of glucocorticoid metabolism in childhood obesity-associated hypertension.

Objective: Childhood obesity is associated with alterations in hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. We tested the hypothesis that multiple alterations in the metabolism of glucocorticoids are required for the development of hypertension in children who become overweight.

Methods: Spot urine for targeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry steroid metabolome analysis was collected from (1) overweight/hypertensive children (n = 38), (2) overweight/non-hypertensive children (n = 83), and (3) non-overweight/non-hypertensive children (n = 56).

Is There an Association Between Cortisol and Hypertension in Overweight or Obese Children?

Objective: The precise mechanisms behind the development of hypertension in overweight or obese children are not yet completely understood. Alterations in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity may play a role. We aimed to investigate the association between cortisol parameters and hypertension in overweight or obese children.