An elevated 17-hydroxysteroids total and/or cortisol total may be caused by stress, strenuous exercise, inflammation, hypoglycemia, insulin resistance, hypothyroidism, or licorice ingestion.
Indicated therapeutics include stress management, adequate sleep, reducing stimulants such as caffeine, reducing high glycemic load foods, as well as considering adrenal nutritional and botanical (adaptogenic) support.
If low Total 17-hydroxysteroids, with or w/out high cortisol:
Possible causes:
- Suppression of endogenous cortisol production from glucocorticoids, e.g., Prednisone
- Low cortisol production, e.g., adrenal insufficiency or congenital adrenal hyperplasia (enzyme deficiency)
- Pituitary insufficiency
Treatment options for Adrenal Insufficiency:
Address physiologic sources of stress:
- Inflammation,
- infections,
- hypoglycemia,
- dysbiosis/leaky gut,
- allergies
Stress management:
- Adequate sleep,
- meditation,
- yoga,
- or other stress-reducing activities
Dietary adjustments:
- Reduce intake of sweets and other high-glycemic load foods
Adrenal nutrient support:
- Vitamin C,
- zinc,
- B vitamins,
- consider extra B6 (100 -200 mg/d) and B5 (500-1500 mg/d)
Consider additional support:
- Eleutherococcus,
- Panax ginseng,
- ashwagandha,
- astragalus,
- schizandra,
- rhodiola,
- licorice
If high Total 17-hydroxysteroids, with or w/out high cortisol:
Possible causes:
- High cortisol production, e.g., stress, strenuous exercise, anorexia nervosa, Cushing’s disease
- Normal or low cortisol production in conjunction with increased clearance of cortisol
--> Confirm adrenal function with salivary AdrenoCortex Stress Profile or serum a.m. cortisol
Treatment Options for Adrenal Excess (confirmed by saliva or serum):
Identify sources of cortisol activation:
- Inflammation,
- infections,
- hypoglycemia,
- dysbiosis/leaky gut,
- allergies,
- abdominal fat/insulin resistance,
- hypothyroid,
- licorice ingestion
Stress management:
- Adequate sleep,
- meditation,
- yoga,
- or other stress-reducing activities
Dietary adjustments:
- Reduce stimulants such as caffeine, ephedra, yerba mate;
- minimize high glycemic-load foods
Adrenal nutrient support:
- Vitamin C,
- zinc,
- B vitamins,
- consider extra B6 (100 -200 mg/d) and B5 (500-1500 mg/d);
- consider phosphatidyl-serine,
- GABA,
- L-theanine
Consider additional support:
- Eleutherococcus,
- ashwagandha,
- astragalus,
- schizandra,
- rhodiola,
- passion flower,
- St. John’s wort,
- valerian,
- skullcap,
- hops,
- magnolia bark,
- DHEA
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