A recent discovery by German researchers may help to explain why people who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop hypertension. Dr Monika Ehrhart-Bornstein, of the German Diabetes Center in Dusseldorf, and colleagues found that fat cells produce factors that tell the adrenal gland to release the hormone aldosterone, which helps to regulate blood pressure. Tests showed that aldosterone secretion by adrenal cells increased more than sevenfold after being exposed to these factors. Levels of other hormones produced by the adrenal gland also increased: cortisol levels nearly tripled, while DHEA levels increased 1.5-fold.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: PNAS 2003;100:14211-14216. Published online before print November 12th 2003, 10.1073/pnas.2336140100.
