Adrenal Stress Index/Interpretation Flashcards
the adrenal glands produce complementary hormones ___ and ___
DHEA and cortisol
____ mobilizes protein stores in all tissues except the ____ and mobilizes fatty acids from adipose tissue
cortisol
liver
the general effect of excess cortisol is usually ____
catabolic (breaking things down)
DHEA is the major precursor of what
testosterone
Estrogens
what is the most active form of DHEA and which is measured
DHEA-S
average of two DHEA-S 12-1 and 4-5pm
what is the normal DHEA-S level and the ideal
normal: 2.0-10.0ng/ml
ideal: 7-8ng/ml
what serves as an early sign of adrenal exhaustion
decreased DHEA levels
sIgA and cortisol/DHEA
abnormal cortisol/DHEA increased or decreased causes a decreased activity in the immunocytes that produce sIgA.
what is the primary hormone that directs immune function
cortisol
names for chronic stress response
pregnenolone steal
cortisol escape
elevated cortisol to DHEA ratio
what is the idea cortisol to DHEA ratio
5:1 - 6:1
what is pregnenolone steal and outcomes
under periods of stress, the body diverts pregnenolone preferentially to (progesterone and then) cortisol. At the detriment of all other hormones: progesterone, aldosterone, estrogen, testosterone. DHEA depletion sets in.
result: high Cortisol:DHEA ratio.
benefits of saliva testing with hormones
it analyses the biologically active compounds that are active at the cellular level.
downside to blood cortisol level testing
blood serum cortisol is mostly protein bound which means about 1-10% of the steroids in the blood are unbound and free. The rest is bound and is biologically unavailable.
Stage 1 Adrenal Exhaustion as seen on lab
an initial increase in cortisol output
-at least one cortisol is high
-total cortisol sum is high
-DHEA borderline low, low or normal
an initial increase in cortisol output
-at least one cortisol is high
-total cortisol sum is high
-DHEA borderline low, low or normal
Stage 1 Adrenal Exhaustion
distinguishing features of Stage 1 Adrenal exhaustion
INCREASED:
-anterior pituitary output of ACTH
-adrenocortical stimulation
-cortisol output
-probability of pregnenolone steal
-probability of decreased DHEA
INCREASED:
-anterior pituitary output of ACTH
-adrenocortical stimulation
-cortisol output
-probability of pregnenolone steal
-probability of decreased DHEA
Stage 1 Adrenal exhaustion
State 1 Adrenal Fatigue defined
prolonged increased excitatory stimulus to the adrenals having resulted in a prolonged, increased cortisol output, usually with a decrease in DHEA.
prolonged increased excitatory stimulus to the adrenals having resulted in a prolonged, increased cortisol output, usually with a decrease in DHEA.
Stage 1 Adrenal Exhaustion