Aldosterone is classified as a mineralocorticoid, while cortisol is classified as what?

Cortisol is classified as a glucocorticoid, which is a type of steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex. Glucocorticoids primarily influence glucose metabolism and play key roles in the body's response to stress. They help regulate various physiological processes, including the conversion of proteins and fats into glucose, immune response suppression, and modulation of inflammatory responses.

In contrast to mineralocorticoids like aldosterone, which primarily regulate sodium and potassium levels and fluid balance, glucocorticoids are more focused on metabolic processes and stress response. This distinction is important for understanding how different classes of steroid hormones function in the body.

While corticosteroids encompass both glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, referring to the broader class of adrenal steroid hormones, the specific classification of cortisol as a glucocorticoid highlights its unique roles and mechanisms separate from those of mineralocorticoids like aldosterone.