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Gérald Seematter

Publications and source records attributed to Gérald Seematter.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Relationship between stress, inflammation and metabolism.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Various threatening stimuli, such as pain, low blood pressure, or infection, elicit a set of neuroendocrine responses that include an increased secretion of catecholamines and glucocorticoid from the adrenal gland and activation of the sympathetic nervous system. These hormonal secretions allow a "fight or flight" response by mobilizing endogenous substrate. They also exert anti-insulin actions, and may in the long term induce a state of insulin resistance. In addition, stress stimulates inflammatory mediators in mononuclear cells. Given the possible role of low-grade inflammation in chronic metabolic disorders, this suggests that stress may be a factor in the development of insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome. RECENT FINDINGS: Studies reviewed in this article cover: (1) the metabolic and haemodynamic effects of stress in healthy and insulin-resistant individuals; (2) the relationship between stress and inflammation and the role of the autonomic nervous system; and (3) some factors known to modulate the neuroendocrine responses to stress. Future perspectives, together with some hints regarding the role of neurotrophins such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor, are delineated. SUMMARY: Recent work performed in the field has indicated that stress may be a significant factor in the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders. Nutritional intervention or pharmacological agents targeted at modulating stress should be investigated.

Cytokines↗

Metabolic effects of mental stress during over- and underfeeding in healthy women.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the short-term consequences of carbohydrate or fat overfeeding or of food restriction on the metabolic effects of mental stress in healthy lean women. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: The effects of a sympathetic activation elicited by mental stress were evaluated in a group of healthy women after standardized isocaloric feeding (ISO) or after a 3-day overfeeding with 40% excess calories as either carbohydrate overfeeding (CHO OF) or fat overfeeding (FAT OF). Oxygen consumption rate (VO(2)) was measured as an index of energy expenditure, and subcutaneous glycerol concentrations were monitored with microdialysis. The same measurements were performed in another group of healthy women after ISO and after a 3-day period of underfeeding with a protein sparing modified fast (UF). RESULTS: In all conditions, mental stress significantly increased heart rate, blood pressure, plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations, and VO(2), and produced a nonsignificant increase in subcutaneous glycerol concentrations. CHO OF and FAT OF did not alter the effects of mental stress on VO(2) and subcutaneous glycerol concentrations. In contrast, UF increased basal VO(2) but significantly reduced its stimulation by mental stress. UF also enhanced the increase in subcutaneous glycerol concentrations during mental stress. DISCUSSION: UF reduces the stimulation of energy expenditure and enhances lipolysis during sympathetic activation. These adaptations may be involved in mobilization of endogenous fat while limiting weight loss. In contrast, short-term overfeeding fails to alter the sympathetic control of energy expenditure and lipolysis.

Adult↗