Figure 1.

Results from the cortisone conversion test and excretion of GC metabolites to estimate hepatic HSD11B1 activity. (A) Mean (s.e.m.) plasma cortisol levels during 4 h after orally administered cortisone acetate. Paleolithic type diet (PD) at baseline = dashed line with circles, 12 weeks = dashed line with triangles. Paleolithic type diet with structured exercise (PDEX) at baseline = line with squares, 12 weeks = line with triangles. (B) Median (IQR) area under the curve from 0 to 60 min (AUC0–60) during the cortisone conversion test (PD n = 14, PDEX n = 10). (C) Median (IQR) Ka constant calculated using curve fitting without compensation for lag (PD n = 9, PDEX n = 10). (D) The ratio of 5β-THF and 5β-THF to THE, an indirect measure of systemic HSD11B1 activity. Black bars = PD, white bars = PDEX. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 for effect of time. ^#P < 0.05, ^##P < 0.01 for effect of group. There were no significant group × time interactions.