Associations between anthropometrical measurements, body composition, single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the hypothalamus/pituitary/adrenal (HPA) axis and HPA axis functioning

Summary Background The relationship between hypothalamus/pituitary/adrenal (HPA) axis functioning and (visceral) obesity may be explained by single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the HPA axis. Objective To investigate the relationship between the HPA axis SNP’s ‘BclI’ in the glucocorticoid receptor gene and C8246T in the POMC gene and anthropometric measurements, body composition, 5‐h cortisol concentrations, HPA axis feedback sensitivity, as well as HPA axis feedback sensitivity under stress in men and women. Design/subjects/measurements We assessed in 92 men and 102 women (18–55 years, BMI 19–41 kg/m2) anthropometry, body composition using hydrodensitometry and deuterium dilution method, cortisol variability by measuring 5‐h cortisol concentrations, HPA axis feedback functioning using a dexamethasone suppression test and HPA axis functioning under a challenged condition consisting of a standardized high intensity test with ingestion of 4 mg dexamethasone. Results In female participants, the 8246C allele carriers compared to the 8246T allele carries were associated with a higher 5‐h cortisol exposure (1·52 × 105 ± 0·8 vs 1·18 × 105 ± 0·6 nm·min, P