During total starvation for 1 or 2 weeks, the adrenocortical function of obese patients with respect to cortisol production and plasma 11-(OH)corticosteroid homeostasis was not changed, judging by the relative constancy of cortisol secretion, the levels of plasma corticosteroids in the am and pm, and the changes in these plasma steroids induced by dexamethasone, ACTH, or pyrogen. A decrease in urinary 17-ketosteroids was observed during the first week and was still present at the end of the second week of inanition. Urinary Porter-Silber chromogens and 11-desoxycortisol metabolites did not change during fasting. Starvation was associated with an increased urinary excretion of 11-desoxy cortisol metabolites in response to metyrapone (SU-4885) without affecting the rise in Porter-Silber chromogens. This suggests that fasting produces partial blockade of 11β-hydroxylase and augments the response to this 11β-hydroxylase inhibitor, but it could represent hyperresponsiveness to metyrapone of other origin.
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Sabeh et al. (1969) studied this question.