Serum cortisone and glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) polymorphism in human dysglycemia

Purpose We aimed to explore the associations of serum cortisone and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) polymorphism with glucose metabolism and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among Chinese adults. Methods A total of 2315 participants were included in the present study. Serum cortisone was measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Multivariable logistic regression and linear regression were employed to assess the associations between serum cortisone and different glucose metabolism status. Results Serum cortisone was positively associated with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and T2DM ((Quartile 4 vs Quartile 1, odds ratio (OR) = 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01, 1.84, andOR = 2.08, 95%CI1.50, 2.89, respectively)). A 100% increase in cortisone was associated with a 0.015 (95%CI0.005, 0.025) mg/dl higher fasting plasma glucose (FPG), a 0.007 (95%CI0.001, 0.013) higher glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), a 0.4% (95%CI- 0.007, 0.000) lower HOMA2-IR, and a 58.1% (95%CI- 0.788, - 0.373) lower HOMA2-beta. After stratification by genotype, the association between serum cortisone and T2DM was not significant in TT genotype carriers. In addition, at the higher concentrations of cortisone, TT genotype carriers had a lower FPG, HbA1c, and HOMA2-IR and a higher HOMA2-beta than GG and GT carriers. Conclusions Elevated serum cortisone was associated with an increased risk of IFG and T2DM, and the associations may be modified by rs9324924 polymorphism.