The primary catabolic impact of chronically elevated cortisol levels on muscle tissue is the accelerated breakdown of muscle proteins and the inhibition of new protein synthesis, leading to a net loss of muscle mass. Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone released by the adrenal glands, primarily in response to stress. Catabolism refers to metabolic processes that break down complex molecules into simpler ones. In muscle, this means the degradation of muscle protein. Specifically, chronically elevated cortisol increases muscle protein degradation, a process called proteolysis, by activating enzymes within muscle cells that dismantle existing muscle fibers. Concurrently, it suppresses the machinery responsible for muscle protein synthesis, which is the creation....
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