“Daily prednisone is known to promote obesity and even metabolic syndrome — a disorder with elevated blood lipids and blood sugar and weight gain. So, these results, in which we intermittently ‘pulse’ the animals with once-weekly prednisone, are strikingly different. Obesity is a major problem, and the idea that once-weekly prednisone could promote nutrient uptake into muscle might be an approach to treating obesity.” “These studies were done in mice. However, if these same pathways hold true in humans, then once-weekly prednisone could benefit obesity,” says senior author Dr. Elizabeth McNally, director of the Center for Genetic Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Hence choosing the right dose of prednisone may help in minimizing atrophy factors and maximizing positive markers like adiponectin, thereby proving a potential therapy.

Source: Medindia