Also see:
The Randle Cycle
Free Fatty Acids Suppress Cellular Respiration
Aldosterone as an endogenous cardiovascular toxin
Aldosterone and Thrombosis
Sodium Deficiency and Stress
Low Sodium Diet: High FFA, Insulin Resistance, Atherosclerosis
Dietary salt restriction, which increases aldosterone levels, is also associated with an increase in insulin resistance. -Garg and Adler, 2012
Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2012 Jun;19(3):168-75.
Role of mineralocorticoid receptor in insulin resistance.
Garg R, Adler GK.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW:
Recent data suggest that mineralocorticoid receptor activation can affect insulin resistance independent of its effects on blood pressure. This review discusses new evidence linking mineralocorticoid receptor to insulin resistance and the underlying mechanisms of these effects.
RECENT FINDINGS:
Observational studies have shown mineralocorticoid activity to be associated with insulin resistance irrespective of race, blood pressure or body weight. Increased mineralocorticoid activity may be the common link between obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance, features that make up the metabolic syndrome. Treatment of primary aldosteronism is associated with a decrease in insulin resistance and provides one of the most convincing evidences in favor of the contribution of mineralocorticoid receptor to insulin resistance. Dietary salt restriction, which increases aldosterone levels, is also associated with an increase in insulin resistance. Potential mechanisms by which mineralocorticoid receptor may contribute to insulin resistance include a decreased transcription of the insulin receptor gene, increased degradation of insulin receptor substrates, interference with insulin signaling mechanisms, decreased adiponectin production and increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Advantages of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists on insulin resistance have been demonstrated in animal models.
SUMMARY:
There may be a benefit of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in human insulin resistance states, but more clinical research is needed to explore these possibilities.
Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2010 Mar-Apr;52(5):401-9.
Aldosterone: role in the cardiometabolic syndrome and resistant hypertension.
Whaley-Connell A, Johnson MS, Sowers JR.
The prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing in concert with obesity. Insulin resistance, metabolic dyslipidemia, central obesity, albuminuria. and hypertension commonly cluster to comprise the cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS). Emerging evidence supports a shift in our understanding of the crucial role of elevated serum aldosterone in promoting insulin resistance and resistant hypertension. Aldosterone enhances tissue generation of oxygen free radicals and systemic inflammation. This increase in oxidative stress and inflammation, in turn, contributes to impaired insulin metabolic signaling, reduced endothelial-mediated vasorelaxation, and associated cardiovascular and renal structural and functional abnormalities. In this context, recent investigation indicates that hyperaldosteronism, which is often associated with obesity, contributes to impaired pancreatic beta-cell function as well as diminished skeletal muscle insulin metabolic signaling. Accumulating evidence indicates that the cardiovascular and renal abnormalities associated with insulin resistance are mediated, in part, by aldosterone’s nongenomic as well as genomic signaling through the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). In the CMS, there are increased circulating levels of glucocorticoids, which can also activate MR signaling in cardiovascular, adipose, skeletal muscle, neuronal, and liver tissue. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence that fat tissue produces a lipid soluble factor that stimulates aldosterone production from the adrenal zona glomerulosa. Recently, we have learned that MR blockade improves pancreatic insulin release, insulin-mediated glucose utilization, and endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation as well as reduces the progression of CVD and CKD. In summary, aldosterone excess exerts detrimental metabolic effects that contribute to the development of the CMS and resistant hypertension as well as CVD and CKD.
Ann Intern Med. 2009 Jun 2;150(11):776-83.
Narrative review: the emerging clinical implications of the role of aldosterone in the metabolic syndrome and resistant hypertension.
Sowers JR, Whaley-Connell A, Epstein M.
The prevalence of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease is increasing in developed countries. Obesity, insulin resistance, and hypertension commonly cluster with other risk factors for cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease to form the metabolic syndrome. Emerging evidence supports a paradigm shift in our understanding of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and in aldosterone’s ability to promote insulin resistance and participate in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome and resistant hypertension. Recent data suggest that excess circulating aldosterone promotes the development of both disorders by impairing insulin metabolic signaling and endothelial function, which in turn leads to insulin resistance and cardiovascular and renal structural and functional abnormalities. Indeed, hyperaldosteronism is associated with impaired pancreatic beta-cell function, skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity, and elevated production of proinflammatory adipokines from adipose tissue, which results in systemic inflammation and impaired glucose tolerance. Accumulating evidence indicates that the cardiovascular and renal abnormalities associated with insulin resistance are mediated in part by aldosterone acting on the mineralocorticoid receptor. Although we have known that mineralocorticoid receptor blockade attenuates cardiovascular and renal injury, only recently have we learned that mineralocorticoid receptor blockade improves pancreatic insulin release, insulin-mediated glucose utilization, and endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. In summary, aldosterone excess has detrimental metabolic effects that contribute to the metabolic syndrome and endothelial dysfunction, which in turn contribute to the development of resistant hypertension as well as cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease.
Curr Hypertens Rep. 2011 Apr;13(2):163-72.
The role of aldosterone in the metabolic syndrome.
Briet M, Schiffrin EL.
The metabolic syndrome associates metabolic abnormalities such as insulin resistance and dyslipidemia with increased waist circumference and hypertension. It is a major public health concern, as its prevalence could soon reach 30% to 50% in developed countries. Aldosterone, a mineralocorticoid hormone classically involved in sodium balance regulation, is increased in patients with metabolic syndrome. Besides its classic actions, aldosterone and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activation affect glucose metabolism, inducing insulin resistance through various mechanisms that involve oxidative stress, inflammation, and downregulation of proteins involved in insulin signaling pathways. Aldosterone and MR signaling exert deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system and the kidney that influence the cardiovascular risk associated with metabolic syndrome. Salt load plays a major role in cardiovascular injury induced by aldosterone and MR signaling. Large multicenter, randomized clinical trials testing the beneficial effects of MR antagonists on cardiovascular events and mortality in patients with metabolic syndrome are needed.
Curr Hypertens Rep. 2010 Aug;12(4):252-7.
Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists and the metabolic syndrome.
Tirosh A, Garg R, Adler GK.
Key components of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), ie, obesity and insulin resistance, are associated with increased aldosterone production and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activation. Both MetS and hyperaldosteronism are proinflammatory and pro-oxidative states associated with cardiovascular disease. This review discusses emerging data that MR activation may contribute to abnormalities seen in MetS. In view of these data, MR antagonists may be beneficial in MetS, not only by controlling hypertension but also by reversing inflammation, oxidative stress, and defective insulin signaling at the cellular-molecular level. Clinical trials have demonstrated benefits of MR antagonists in heart failure, hypertension, and diabetic nephropathy, but additional trials are needed to demonstrate the clinical significance of MR blockade in MetS.
Klin Wochenschr. 1991;69 Suppl 25:51-7.
Short-term dietary sodium restriction increases serum lipids and insulin in salt-sensitive and salt-resistant normotensive adults.
Ruppert M, Diehl J, Kolloch R, Overlack A, Kraft K, Göbel B, Hittel N, Stumpe KO.
Evidence suggests that dietary salt reduction similar to diuretic therapy may adversely affect lipid and glucose metabolism. We studied 147 non-obese normotensive subjects (60 females and 87 males) aged 19-78 years who entered a single-blind crossover trial and were randomly assigned to a low salt diet of 20 mmol or a high salt diet of 300 mmol sodium per day, for 7 days each. Sodium restriction lowered mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) by a mean of 7.5 mmHg in 17% (salt-sensitive), had no hemodynamic effect in 67% (salt-resistant) and raised MAP by a mean of 6 mmHg in 16% of the subjects (reverse reactors). With dietary salt restriction serum total- and LDL-cholesterol as well as serum insulin and uric acid concentrations increased significantly in all three groups. The largest increases in total (10%) and LDL- (12%) cholesterol occurred in the reverse reactors. Salt-sensitives had significant higher lipoprotein(a) values than the other two groups. Salt-restriction had no significant effect on this parameter. Plasma renin activity, as well as plasma aldosterone and noradrenaline concentrations rose in all three groups during the low salt diet, the largest increases being observed in the reverse reactors. Short-term sodium restriction in normotensive adults has unfavourable effects on lipid and glucose metabolism, especially in subjects who do not derive hemodynamic benefit. Further studies are necessary to examine the effects of more moderate salt reduction for longer periods on the risk factor profile for cardiovascular disease before a low salt diet can be regarded as a safe public health measure for the general population.
Aust J Exp Biol Med Sci. 1976 Feb;54(1):71-8.
Regulation of aldosterone in the guinea-pig–effect of oestrus cycle, pregnancy and sodium status.
Whipp GT, Wintour EM, Coghlan JP, Scoggins BA.
The blood concentrations of aldosterone, corticosterone and cortisol were measured in conscious, non-stressed guinea-pigs using a double isotope dilution derivative assay procedure. Aldosterone levels in the guinea-pig were high when compared with those of other species. The concentration of aldosterone, 37-7 +/- 15-9 ng/100 ml (x +/- SD), and cortisol, 31-8 +/- 10-1 mug/100 ml, found in non-pregnant females on a moderate sodium intake was significantly greater than in males (aldosterone 22-2 +/- 2-4 ng/100 ml and cortisol 19-3 +/- 5-7 mug/100 ml). There was no sex difference in corticosterone concentrations; females, 0-25 +/- 0-06 mug/100 ml and males, 0-23 +/- 0-10 mug/100 ml. The oestrus cycle had no effect on levels of the three steroids measured. Two thirds of the way through the 68-day gestation period aldosterone levels were significantly elevated compared with non-pregnant values (68-7 +/- 50-9 ng/100 ml, p less than 0-05). Values at day 20 (33-2 +/- 11-7 ng/100 ml) and day 60 of gestation (51-9 +/- 21-7 ng/100 ml) were similar to those of non-pregnant animals. Cortisol and corticosterone levels were significantly elevated at 20 days gestation and they continued to rise until, at day 60, cortisol was 9 times and corticosterone 4 times higher than the non-pregnant values. Compared with a moderate Na intake, salt loading suppressed aldosterone levels and Na restriction raised them.
J Clin Invest. 1972 October; 51(10): 2645–2652.
Studies of the control of plasma aldosterone concentration in normal man III
Robert G. Dluhy, Lloyd Axelrod, Richard H. Underwood, and Gordon H. Williams
The peripheral plasma levels of aldosterone, renin activity, potassium, sodium, corticosterone, and cortisol were measured in six normal subjects four times daily—10 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m., 11 p.m.—on 3 consecutive days. A constant daytime activity program was maintained throughout the study. After 5 days on a 10 mEq sodium/100 mEq potassium isocaloric intake, the mean upright 10 a.m. plasma renin activity was 1773±186 ng/100 ml per 3 hr and the mean plasma aldosterone, 81±14 ng/100 ml. These two parameters fell continuously throughout the day parallel to the fall in plasma cortisol and corticosterone. In response to 2 liters of normal saline infused from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 2 consecutive days, plasma aldosterone levels fell significantly to 13±5 ng/100 ml at 2 p.m. after the 1st day’s infusion and to 6±1 ng/100 ml at 2 p.m. after the 2nd. Plasma renin activity demonstrated a parallel fall to 368±63 ng/100 ml per 3 hr and 189±27 ng/100 ml per 3 hr at 2 p.m. on the 1st and 2nd days, respectively. There was no significant alteration in plasma levels of cortisol, corticosterone, potassium, or sodium on the 2 days of sodium loading in comparison with the control day. In an additional study, five normal supine subjects received 500 ml saline/hr for 6 hr. As in the 2 day study, plasma aldosterone and renin activity had parallel decrements at 1, 2, 4, and 6 hr after the start of the saline infusion. From these studies, it is concluded that plasma renin activity is the dominant factor controlling plasma aldosterone when sodium-depleted normal subjects are acutely repleted.
A low salt diet increases the free fatty acids, leading to insulin resistance, and contributing to atherosclerosis (Prada, et al., 2000; Mrnka, et al., 2005; Catanozi, et al., 2003; Garg, et al., 2011). -Ray Peat, PhD
J Endocrinol. 2005 Jun;185(3):429-37.
Low salt intake modulates insulin signaling, JNK activity and IRS-1ser307 phosphorylation in rat tissues.
Prada PO, Coelho MS, Zecchin HG, Dolnikoff MS, Gasparetti AL, Furukawa LN, Saad MJ, Heimann JC.
A severe restriction of sodium chloride intake has been associated with insulin resistance and obesity. The molecular mechanisms by which the low salt diet (LS) can induce insulin resistance have not yet been established. The c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activity has been involved in the pathophysiology of obesity and induces insulin resistance by increasing inhibitory IRS-1(ser307) phosphorylation. In this study we have evaluated the regulation of insulin signaling, JNK activation and IRS-1(ser307) phophorylation in liver, muscle and adipose tissue by immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting in rats fed with LS or normal salt diet (NS) during 9 weeks. LS increased body weight, visceral adiposity, blood glucose and plasma insulin levels, induced insulin resistance and did not change blood pressure. In LS rats a decrease in PI3-K/Akt was observed in liver and muscle and an increase in this pathway was seen in adipose tissue. JNK activity and IRS-1(ser307) phosphorylation were higher in insulin-resistant tissues. In summary, the insulin resistance, induced by LS, is tissue-specific and is accompanied by activation of JNK and IRS-1(ser307) phosphorylation. The impairment of the insulin signaling in these tissues, but not in adipose tissue, may lead to increased adiposity and insulin resistance in LS rats.
Physiol Res. 2000;49(2):197-205.
Low-salt diet alters the phospholipid composition of rat colonocytes.
Mrnka L, Nováková O, Novák F, Tvrzická E, Pácha J.
he effect of low-salt diet on phospholipid composition and remodeling was examined in rat colon which represents a mineralocorticoid target tissue. To elucidate this question, male Wistar rats were fed a low-salt diet and drank distilled water (LS, low-salt group) or saline instead of water (HS, high-salt group) for 12 days before the phospholipid concentration and fatty acid composition of isolated colonocytes were examined. The dietary regimens significantly influenced the plasma concentration of aldosterone which was high in LS group and almost zero in HS group. Plasma concentration of corticosterone was unchanged. When expressed in terms of cellular protein content, a significantly higher concentration of phospholipids was found in LS group, with the exception of sphingomyelin (SM) and phosphatidylserine (PS). Phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) accounted for more than 70% of total phospholipids in both groups. A comparison of phospholipid distribution in LS and HS groups demonstrated a higher percentage of PE and a small, but significant, decrease of PC and SM in LS group. The percentage of phosphatidylinositol (PI), PS and cardiolipin (CL) were not affected by mineralocorticoid treatment. With respect to the major phospholipids (PE, PC), a higher level of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and lower levels of monounsaturated fatty acids were detected in PC of LS group. The increase of PUFA predominantly reflected an increase in arachidonic acid by 53%. In comparison to the HS group, oleic acid content was decreased in PC and PE isolated from colonocytes of the LS group. Our data indicate that alterations in phospholipid concentration and metabolism can be detected in rats with secondary hyperaldosteronism. The changes in phospholipid concentration and their fatty acid composition during fully developed effect of low dietary Na+ intake may reflect a physiologically important phenomenon with long-term consequences for membrane structure and function.
J Lipid Res. 2003 Apr;44(4):727-32. Epub 2003 Jan 16.
Dietary sodium chloride restriction enhances aortic wall lipid storage and raises plasma lipid concentration in LDL receptor knockout mice.
Catanozi S, Rocha JC, Passarelli M, Guzzo ML, Alves C, Furukawa LN, Nunes VS, Nakandakare ER, Heimann JC, Quintão EC.
This study aimed at measuring the influence of a low salt diet on the development of experimental atherosclerosis in moderately hyperlipidemic mice. Experiments were carried out on LDL receptor (LDLR) knockout (KO) mice, or apolipoprotein E (apoE) KO mice on a low sodium chloride diet (LSD) as compared with a normal salt diet (NSD). On LSD, the rise of the plasma concentrations of TG and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) was, respectively, 19% and 34% in LDLR KO mice, and 21% and 35% in apoE KO mice, and that of plasma cholesterol was limited to the LDLR KO group alone (15%). Probably due to the apoE KO severe hypercholesterolemia, the arterial inner-wall fat storage was not influenced by the diet salt content and was far more abundant in the apoE KO than in the LDLR KO mice. However, in the less severe hypercholesterolemia of the LDLR KO mice, lipid deposits on the LSD were greater than on the NSD. Arterial fat storage correlated with NEFA concentrations in the LDLR KO mice alone (n = 14, P = 0.0065). Thus, dietary sodium chloride restriction enhances aortic wall lipid storage in moderately hyperlipidemic mice.
Metabolism. 2011 Jul;60(7):965-8. Epub 2010 Oct 30.
Low-salt diet increases insulin resistance in healthy subjects.
Garg R, Williams GH, Hurwitz S, Brown NJ, Hopkins PN, Adler GK. Low-salt (LS) diet activates the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone and sympathetic nervous systems, both of which can increase insulin resistance (IR). We investigated the hypothesis that LS diet is associated with an increase in IR in healthy subjects. Healthy individuals were studied after 7 days of LS diet (urine sodium <20 mmol/d) and 7 days of high-salt (HS) diet (urine sodium >150 mmol/d) in a random order. Insulin resistance was measured after each diet and compared statistically, unadjusted and adjusted for important covariates. One hundred fifty-two healthy men and women, aged 39.1 ± 12.5 years (range, 18-65) and with body mass index of 25.3 ± 4.0 kg/m(2), were included in this study. Mean (SD) homeostasis model assessment index was significantly higher on LS compared with HS diet (2.8 ± 1.6 vs 2.4 ± 1.7, P < .01). Serum aldosterone (21.0 ± 14.3 vs 3.4 ± 1.5 ng/dL, P < .001), 24-hour urine aldosterone (63.0 ± 34.0 vs 9.5 ± 6.5 μg/d, P < .001), and 24-hour urine norepinephrine excretion (78.0 ± 36.7 vs 67.9 ± 39.8 μg/d, P < .05) were higher on LS diet compared with HS diet. Low-salt diet was significantly associated with higher homeostasis model assessment index independent of age, sex, blood pressure, body mass index, serum sodium and potassium, serum angiotensin II, plasma renin activity, serum and urine aldosterone, and urine epinephrine and norepinephrine. Low-salt diet is associated with an increase in IR. The impact of our findings on the pathogenesis of diabetes and cardiovascular disease needs further investigation.
