3 ms·

It may be a contributing factor in some cases. The study published in Obesity you link says the adenovirus affects insulin, leptin, and corticosterone. An impor

It may be a contributing factor in some cases. The study published in Obesity you link says the adenovirus affects insulin, leptin, and corticosterone. An important note about the third item: "In many species, including amphibians, reptiles, rodents and birds, corticosterone is a main glucocorticoid, involved in regulation of energy, immune reactions, and stress responses. However, in humans, cortisol is the primary glucocorticoid..." [1]. Note that the adenovirus itself wasn't definitively causing obesity, but obesity is caused by the adenovirus' effects on certain hormones. I highlight this because obesity is increasingly being reestablished as a hormonal problem. See my post and replies for more information about this change: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38942521 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38942521 [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corticosterone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corticosterone

InSteady 3y ago
A lot of viral infections impact cortisol in humans. Infection tends to ramp up cortisol levels, but prolonged or chronic infection can both deplete cortisol (so called adrenal fatigue) and/or make the body more resistant to the effects of cortisol. This is seen in the extreme in the case of HIV. I assume cortisol resistance is analogous to insulin resistance in prediabetics. Apparently chronic stress can have similar effects. And chronic stress may be associated with chronic viral reactivation. [1] Great comment! Interestingly, depleted cortisol levels from chronic stress may be associated with the development of long covid. [2] I wonder if down the road we will see that people who have had long covid are at increased risk of developing or exacerbating obesity. [1] - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8470332/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8470332/ [2] - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9519365/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9519365/

InSteady 3y ago

A lot of viral infections impact cortisol in humans. Infection tends to ramp up cortisol levels, but prolonged or chronic infection can both deplete cortisol (so called adrenal fatigue) and/or make the body more resistant to the effects of cortisol. This is seen in the extreme in the case of HIV. I assume cortisol resistance is analogous to insulin resistance in prediabetics. Apparently chronic stress can have similar effects. And chronic stress may be associated with chronic viral reactivation. [1] Great comment! Interestingly, depleted cortisol levels from chronic stress may be associated with the development of long covid. [2] I wonder if down the road we will see that people who have had long covid are at increased risk of developing or exacerbating obesity. [1] - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8470332/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8470332/ [2] - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9519365/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9519365/