Adrenal Stress
Test
Simple to order. Take the test at home. Mail to the lab.
 The Adrenal Stress Test measures
your response to stress and reveals adrenal imbalances that may be impacting
your health. This an in-home test that includes 4 simple, timed salivary
specimens.
 Overview
The adrenal glands produce the complementary hormones cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone
(DHEA). The Adrenal Stress Test is
compromised of a series of saliva tests that measure the level of cortisol
four times a day to establish its circadian rhythm. Additionally it measures
a two sample average of the sulfated form of DHEA (DHEA-S), and related
metabolites including progesterone, estradiol, estriol, testosterone,
and melatonin. Assessing the cortisol rhythm and DHEA-S average is a critical
first step in an evaluation and also as a fundamental component in follow
up.
Physiology
Stress is a major underlying cause of many chronic illnesses, from Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome to food and environmental allergies. A stressful lifestyle
can lead to consistently high levels of cortisol and low levels of DHEA.
This can be damaging to the brain and other tissues.
Cortisol elevation also impacts immune responses, such as secretory IgA
and antigliadin antibody (AGA) production. Cortisol affects the heart,
vasculature, blood pressure, water excretion, and electrolyte balance.
Cortisol:
- Mobilizes protein stores in all tissues except the liver
- Mobilizes fatty acids from adipose
- Is the precursor of cortisone and acts as an anti-inflammatory
- Is the primary hormone directing immune function
Cortisol can stimulate or inhibit gene transcription, promote apoptosis,
and affect bone metabolism and calcium dynamics. It affects behavior,
mood, neural activity, and a variety of central nervous system biochemical
processes. Cortisol affects the eyes, gastrointestinal tract, reproductive
function, and the production and clearance of other classes of hormone.
It is a major marker of the complex control loops regulating the sex hormones.
The general effect of excess cortisol is usually stimulatory and catabolic;
a deficiency of cortisol usually results in a slowing of physiology.
In the presence of stressors, the body almost immediately attempts to
increase cortisol levels. This increase is associated with both endocrine
and autonomic responses in preparing the body to defend itself normally.
However, elevated cortisol levels for extended periods negatively affect
virtually every aspect of physiology.
For example, it becomes more difficult to:
- Maintain proper blood sugar levels
- Slow down for rest, recovery, and repair
- Get good quality sleep
- Balance other hormones
- Maintain mucosal immune integrity
- Maintain bone mass
- Produce effective general immune function
- Effectively regulate inflammatory processes
- Detoxify the body
Without proper intervention, continued high adrenal stimulation can lead
to adrenal exhaustion and lowered cortisol levels.
Secretion of cortisol, regulated by the sleep-wake cycle, is characterized
by a steep increase in the early morning, followed by a gradual tapering
off until late evening. Stress causes elevated cortisol levels, which
continue as long as the stressor is present. Stress also overrides negative
feedback of cortisol in the Hypothalamus-Pituitary- Adrenocortex (HPA)
axis. Prolonged stress, causing increased secretion of cortisol, may over
time lead to hypertrophy of the adrenal cortex.
Signs of Adrenal Maladaption
- Impaired energy production (insulin sensitivity drops)
- Reduction in glucose utilization and in amino acids due to enhanced
gluconeogenesis
- Increased bone resporption and osteoporosis
- Fat accumulation around the waist
- Increased protein breakdown
- Salt and water retention
- General immune suppression
- Increased rate of infection
- Reduced vitality
- Hunger
Health Conditions Associated with the Stress Response
- Stress intolerance
- Depression
- Chronic fatigue
- Insomnia
- Allergies
- Osteoporosis
- Hypothyroidism
- Premenstrual Syndrome
- Accelerated aging
- Anxiety
- Poor Immune Function
- Obesity
- Fibromyalgia
- Glucose intolerance
- Yeast overgrowth
DHEA and the Adrenal Gland
DHEA is the major precursor of testosterone and the estrogens. It becomes
active at puberty. The more stable, sulfated form of DHEA is DHEA-S, which
provides a more reliable measure of DHEA levels than DHEA itself. DHEA
is an important modulator of many physiological processes. It promotes
the growth and repair of protein tissue (especially muscle), and acts
as a counter-regulatory agent to cortisol, negating many of the harmful
effects of excess cortisol. When increased demand for cortisol is prolonged,
DHEA levels decline. DHEA is no longer able to balance the negative effects
of excess cortisol. Depressed DHEA levels serve as an early warning of
potential adrenal exhaustion.
Among other functions, DHEA serves as a metabolic intermediate in the
pathway for synthesis of testosterone, estrone, and estradiol synthesis
in the adrenal glands, ovaries, and testes. Since DHEA in plasma has a
very short half-life, most of circulating DHEA is in the sulfate form
(DHEA-S). DHEA-S provides a ready source of DHEA for the production of
estrogens and androgens.
A chronic imbalance between adrenal stimulation and cortisol and/or DHEA
output is associated with a multitude of both clinical and subclinical
systemic disorders. Chronically depressed DHEA output results in imbalance
in sex hormones.
The Adrenal Gland and sIgA
Abnormal cortisol and/or DHEA values (either elevated or depressed) result
in a decrease in the activity of the immunocytes that produce secretory
IgA (sIgA). SIgA provides a mucosal first line immune defense against
virtually every pathogen, including parasites, protozoa, yeasts, fungi,
bacteria, and viruses. SIgA also provides a normal immune response to
regularly encountered food proteins. Dysfunctional mucosal immunity is
associated with an increased risk of infections and of adverse food reactions.
During a high stress situation, levels of sIgA decrease. Chronic cortisol
elevation may be associated with high antigliadian antibodies (gliadin
is a protein component found in wheat) due to intestinal hyperpermeability.
When the adrenal stress profile indicates an inappropriate hormonal stress
response, it is necessary to consider stress reduction through diet and
lifestyle modifications, and nutritional supplementation to support adrenal
gland activity and enhance the restoration of the physical barrier in
the gut.
Clinical Use
The degree and timing of cortisol imbalances provides valuable insights
into the nature of causative stressors. Readily identifiable induces of
increased adrenal stimulation include stressors such as tissue damage,
inflammation, pain, and mental or emotional stress. Other significant
physiological stressors can be subclinical, and include intolerance to
the gliadin fraction of gluten protein, lactose or sucrose intolerance,
glycemic dysregulation, delayed food sensitivity, and the presence of
parasites or pathogens. Additional testing may be necessary to rule out
the possibility of these and other factors interfering with digestion
and absorption. This type of problem could likely impede such fundamental
and critical processes as the ability to absorb water, the assimilation
of essential nutrients, and the maintenance of normal blood sugar. Chronic
dysfunction of any of these processes is sufficient cause of adrenal exhaustion.
Physiological pathways, organs, or systems identified as being the major
cause of some other disorder may concurrently serve as causative agents
in adrenal exhaustion. In most cases, regardless of the priority given
to another pathway, organ, or system as being dysfunctional – and
virtually regardless of the condition identified – adrenal exhaustion
resulting from excessive stress must be addressed in order to restore
normal physiology or function.
Conditions that may be assessed include:
Adrenal malfunction often misdiagnosed as thyroid
malfunction
Thyroid malfunction
Systemic hyper or hypo excitability
Sex hormone disorders
States of immunodeficiency
States of abnormal physiological response to
any of a variety of stimuli including foods in the normal diet
How
to Get the Test
Your test is ordered through me in my capacity as a Certified Nutritionist.
Call the number below or use our secure online shopping cart.
I'll have the test sent directly to you within a few days. A small
shipping and handling fee applies.
You send the necessary specimen to an independent laboratory.
The test results are sent to me and I forward a copy to you.
We then schedule a time to discuss the interpretations and implications
of the results and possible nutritional or lifestyle programs
appropriate for you based on the information.
The main value of these tests is to enable us to more accurately and
precisely implement preventive and wellness measures to increase your
health and well-being and reduce your future risks of illness and degenerative
conditions. These tests have a practical advantage because the test kit
is sent directly to your home. Samples are collected at your convenience
and mailed back to the lab.
To Your Health,
The fee for the
Adrenal Stress Test
functional test is
$200.
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