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Associated conditions of chronic stress

Prolonged stress responses can progress into dysfunctional hormonal patterns. Chronic stress can disrupt metabolism and ultimately contribute to neurological conditions, cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal symptoms, skin issues, and other complications. Signs or symptoms of prolonged stress or chronic metabolic dysfunction are indicators for adrenal testing.4, 5

  • Neurological conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, mood disorders, depression, anxiety, memory loss, male sexual dysfunction 6-11
  • Metabolic disorders such as menstrual irregularities, obesity, thyroid diseases 12-14
  • Cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack, heart diseases 15, 16
  • Gastrointestinal disorders such as constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux 3, 17, 18
  • Skin disorders such as eczema, psoriasis, saggy skin 3, 19, 20
  • Inflammatory and Immune dysfunction such as decreased immune function, autoimmune disease, inflammatory disorders 3, 21-24

Panel components

The adrenal stress profile includes six saliva collection vials. While only five collections are required, an optional sixth collection is recommended for deeper insights into your hormone function. There are five to six cortisol collections and one DHEA-S collection.

Benefits of testing

Since stress and inflammation are major underlying factors in many chronic diseases, checking levels of both cortisol and DHEA can be a window into how well the body is managing this critical factor of chronic illness.

Both cortisol and DHEA, produced by the adrenal glands, affect carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism, as well as thyroid hormone and sex hormone function:

Cortisol

  • An anti-inflammatory hormone; production is controlled through negative feedback regulation and circadian rhythm (sleep-wake cycle). 25
  • Maximum cortisol levels normally occur between 5 and 8 am after which levels basically decline with lowest levels occurring between 12 am and 4 am. 26
  • Suppresses immunity 27, 28

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)

  • Reduces inflammation, supports metabolism, cardiovascular health, nervous system health, etc. 10
  • Serves as the precursor in the formation of male and female sex hormones (testosterone, estrone, estradiol).
  • Supports immunity 29

Test results

Easy to understand color-coded test report compares your results to reference ranges for cortisol (hormone increased during stress) and DHEA (hormone reduced during stress) along with research based test results commentary.

About our lab

Cell Science Systems, Corp. is a specialty clinical laboratory that develops and performs laboratory testing in immunology and cell biology supporting the personalized treatment and prevention of chronic disease. Cel Science Systems, Corp. operates a CLIA certified laboratory and is an FDA inspected and registered, cGMP medical device manufacturer meeting ISO EN13485 2012 standards.

Committed to quality

Cell Science Systems fulfills high quality standards in accordance with state, federal and international regulations.

  • CLIA-ID#10D0283906
  • CE Marked. TUV Certified and safety monitored
  • Supported by the EU and the State of Brandenburg
  • ISO 13485:2003 + AC:2012

Literature

1 Stahl F, Schnorr D, Pilz C, Dörner G. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels in patients with prostatic cancer, heart diseases and under surgery stress. Exp. Clin. Endocrin. 1992. 99:68-70.

2 Miller JE, Bray MA, Faiman C, Reyes FI. Characterization of 24-h cortisol release in obese and non-obese hyperandrogenic women. Gynecol. Endocrin. 1994. 8:247-254.

3 Boscarino JA. Posttraumatic stress disorder and physical illness: results from clinical and epidemiologic studies. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004 Dec;1032:141-53.

4 Nicolaides NC, Charmandari E, Chrousos GP, Kino T. Circadian endocrine rhythms: the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and its actions. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2014 May;1318:71-80.

5 Hellhammer DH, Wüst S, Kudielka BM. Salivary cortisol as a biomarker in stress research. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2009.

6 Guéchot J, Lépine JP, Cohen C, Fiet J, Lempérière T, Dreux C. Simple laboratory test of neuroendocrine disturbance in depression: 11 p.m. saliva cortisol. Biol. Psychiat. 1987.18:1-4.

7 Demitrack MA, Dale JK, Straus SE, Laue L, Listwak SJ, Kruesi MJ, Chrousos GP, Gold PW. Evidence for impaired activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. J. Clin. Endocrin. Metab. 1991.73:1224-1234.

8 Blood GW, Blood IM, Bennett S, Simpson KC, Susman EJ. Subjective anxiety measurements and cortisol responses in adults who stutter. J. Speech and Hear. Res. 1994. 37:760-768.

9 Clayton A, Ramamurthy S. The impact of physical illness on sexual dysfunction. Adv Psychosom Med. 2008;29:70-88.

10 Traish AM, Kang HP, Saad F, Guay AT. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)—a precursor steroid or an active hormone in human physiology. J Sex Med. 2011 Nov;8(11):2960-82.

11 Bertorini TE, Perez A. Neurologic complications of disorders of the adrenal glands. Handb Clin Neurol. 2014;120:749-71.

12 Ding JH, Sheckter CB, Drinkwater BL, Soules MR, Bremner WJ. High serum cortisol levels in exercise associated amenorrhea. Ann Intern Med. 1988 Apr;108(4):530-4.

13 Miller JE, Bray MA, Faiman C, Reyes FI. Characterization of 24-h cortisol release in obese and non-obese hyperandrogenic women. Gynecol. Endocrin. 1994. 8:247-254.

14 Földes J, Fehér T, Fehér KG, Kollin E, Bodrogi L. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DS), dehydroepiandrosterone (D) and "free" dehydroepiandrosterone (FD) in the plasma with thyroid diseases. Horm. Metab. Res. 1983.15:623-624.

15 Stahl F, Schnorr D, Pilz C, Dörner G. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels in patients with prostatic cancer, heart diseases and under surgery stress. Exp. Clin. Endocrin. 1992. 99:68-70.

16 Donald RA, Crozier IG, Foy SG, Richards AM, Livesey JH, Ellis MJ, Mattioli L, Ikram H.Plasma corticotrophin releasing hormone, vasopressin, ACTH and cortisol responses to acute myocardial infarction. Clin. Endocrin. 1994. 40:499-504.

17 Mönnikes H, Tebbe JJ, Hildebrandt M, Arck P, Osmanoglou E, Rose M, Klapp B, Wiedenmann B, Heymann-Mönnikes I. Role of stress in functional gastrointestinal disorders. Evidence for stress-induced alterations in gastrointestinal motility and sensitivity. Dig Dis. 2001;19(3):201-11.

18 Mayer EA. The neurobiology of stress and gastrointestinal disease. Gut. 2000 Dec;47(6):861-9.

19 Rupprecht M, Salzer B, Raum B, Hornstein OP, Koch HU, Riederer P, Sofic E, Rupprecht R. Physical stress-induced secretion of adrenal and pituitary hormones in patients with atopic eczema compared with normal controls. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 1997;105(1):39-45.

20 Lind M. Cure of Psoriasis and Arthritis when Addison's Disease Was Detected. Case Rep Dermatol. 2010 Jun 1;2(2):95-98.

21 Loria RM, Inge TH, Cook SS, Szakal AK, Regelson W. Protection against acute lethal viral infections with the native steroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). J. Med. Virol. 1988.26:301-314.

22 Jacobson MA, Fusaro RE, Galmarini M, Lang W.Decreased serum dehydroepiandrosterone is associated with an increased progression of human immunodeficiency virus infection in men with CD4 cell counts of 200- 499. J. Infect. Dis. 1991.164:864-868.

23 Suzuki T, Suzuki N, Engleman EG, Mizushima Y and Sakane T. Low serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone may cause deficient IL-2 production by lymphocytes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Clin. Exp. Immunol. 1995. 99:251-255.

24 Head K, Kelley GS. Nutrients and Botanicals for Treatment of Stress: Adrenal Fatigue, Neurotransmitter Imbalance, Anxiety, and Restless Sleep. Alterantive Medicine Review Volume 14, Number 2 2009

25 Dorn, LD, Lucke, JF, Loucks, TL, Berga, SL. Salivary cortisol reflects serum cortisol: analysis of circadian profiles. 2007. Feb;34(2):163-71.

26 Kirschbaum C, Hellhammer DH. Salivary Cortisol. Encyclopedia of Stress. 2000 Vol. 3, 379-383.

27 Butcher SK, Lord JM. Stress responses and innate immunity: aging as a contributory factor. Aging Cell. 2004 Aug;3(4):151-60.

28 Bauer ME. Stress, glucocorticoids and ageing of the immune system. Stress. 2005 Mar;8(1):69-83.

29 Butcher SK, Killampalli V, Lascelles D, Wang K, Alpar EK, Lord JM. Raised cortisol:DHEAS ratios in the elderly after injury: potential impact upon neutrophil function and immunity. Aging Cell. 2005 Dec;4(6):319-24.