Cortisone (E)

Urine
check icon Optimal Result: 39 - 143 ug/g Creatinine.

What is Cortisone (E)?

Cortisone (also noted as E in laboratory reports) is an inactive metabolite of cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone. It is produced in the adrenal glands and serves as part of the body’s natural stress response system.

In the body, cortisone and cortisol are interconvertible—an enzyme system (11b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase types 1 and 2) constantly transforms cortisone into cortisol and vice versa, depending on the body’s needs.

By measuring urinary cortisone as part of the DU Balance Hormone Profile, clinicians can evaluate adrenal gland activity, stress response balance, and cortisol metabolism over time.


Why is Cortisone important?

Cortisone acts as a buffer and reservoir for cortisol, helping to regulate stress hormone availability. The cortisol–cortisone balance offers valuable insight into how your body:

  • Handles chronic stress

  • Converts and clears stress hormones

  • Maintains inflammation control and immune balance

  • Supports blood sugar regulation and energy levels

Understanding cortisone levels helps determine whether your adrenal system is overactive, underactive, or imbalanced in its stress hormone conversion.


Key takeaway

Cortisone (E) provides a snapshot of how your body metabolizes and balances cortisol, your primary stress hormone. Together, cortisol and cortisone levels reveal how well your adrenal system adapts to daily stress demands.

A balanced cortisone level indicates healthy stress hormone regulation, while persistent highs or lows may signal the need for adrenal support or stress management strategies.

Monitoring cortisone alongside other hormones on the DU Balance Hormone Profile—like cortisol, DHEA, and testosterone—offers a deeper understanding of your overall endocrine and stress resilience.

What does it mean if your Cortisone (E) result is too high?

When Cortisone is elevated

High cortisone levels often reflect increased adrenal output or heightened cortisol metabolism—suggesting the body is working hard to adapt to ongoing stress.

Possible causes:

  • Chronic emotional or physical stress

  • Overactive adrenal function (hypercortisolism)

  • Inflammation or immune activation

  • Excess caffeine or stimulant use

  • High-intensity exercise without recovery

  • Corticosteroid medication use

Possible symptoms:

  • Trouble sleeping or staying asleep

  • Anxiety or restlessness

  • Weight gain (especially abdominal)

  • Sugar cravings

  • High blood pressure

  • Lowered immune resilience

Supportive measures:

  • Prioritize rest, relaxation, and recovery

  • Reduce caffeine and alcohol

  • Support adrenal balance with B-vitamins, magnesium, and adaptogenic herbs (ashwagandha, rhodiola)

  • Ensure adequate nutrition and hydration

What does it mean if your Cortisone (E) result is too low?

When Cortisone is low

Low cortisone levels may indicate reduced cortisol production, sluggish adrenal activity, or impaired conversion between cortisol and cortisone.

Possible causes:

  • Adrenal fatigue or insufficiency

  • Chronic stress exhaustion (late-stage burnout)

  • Low pituitary (ACTH) stimulation

  • Anti-inflammatory or steroid medication suppression

  • Chronic illness, infection, or nutrient deficiencies

Possible symptoms:

  • Fatigue and low motivation

  • Brain fog and poor concentration

  • Low blood pressure or dizziness

  • Sugar or salt cravings

  • Feeling overwhelmed or easily stressed

Supportive measures:

  • Ensure consistent sleep and stress management practices

  • Eat regular, balanced meals with protein and complex carbs

  • Support adrenal recovery with vitamin C, B5, and electrolytes

  • Address underlying causes with your healthcare provider

Article Review & Sources

All our content is backed by peer-reviewed studies, academic research, and trusted medical sources. We're committed to accuracy and transparency — see our editorial policy for details.

Laboratories

Bring All Your Lab Results Together — In One Place

We accept reports from any lab, so you can easily collect and organize all your health information in one secure spot.

lab corp logo
genova diagnostics logo
quest diagnostics logo
dutch test logo
doctors data logo
vibrant america logo
diagnostic solutions logo
zrt laboratory logo
the great plains laboratory logo
cyrex laboratories logo
spectracell logo

Pricing Table

decoration

Personal plans

$79/ year

Advanced Plan

Access your lab reports, explanations, and tracking tools.

  • Import lab results from any provider
  • Track all results with visual tools
  • Customize your reference ranges
  • Export your full lab history anytime
  • Share results securely with anyone
  • Receive 5 reports entered for you
  • Cancel or upgrade anytime

$250/ once

Unlimited Account

Pay once, access everything—no monthly fees, no limits.

  • Import lab results from any provider
  • Track all results with visual tools
  • Customize your reference ranges
  • Export your full lab history anytime
  • Share results securely with anyone
  • Receive 10 reports entered for you
  • No subscriptions. No extra fees.

$45/ month

Pro Monthly

Designed for professionals managing their clients' lab reports

  • Import lab results from any provider
  • Track lab results for multiple clients
  • Customize reference ranges per client
  • Export lab histories and reports
  • Begin with first report entered by us
  • Cancel or upgrade anytime

About membership

What's included in a Healthmatters membership

microscope icon Import Lab Results from Any Source

person icon See Your Health Timeline

book icon Understand What Your Results Mean

textbook icon

textbook icon Visualize Your Results

folder icon

folder icon

card icon Securely Share With Anyone You Trust

Let Your Lab Results Tell the Full Story

What Healthmatters Members Are Saying

5 stars rating

I have been using Healthmatters.io since 2021. I travel all over the world and use different doctors and health facilities. This site has allowed me to consolidate all my various test results over 14 years in one place. And every doctor that I show this to has been impressed. Because with  any health professional I talk to, I can pull up historical results in seconds. It is invaluable. Even going back to the same doctor, they usually do not have the historical results from their facility in a graph format. That has been very helpful.

Anthony

Unlimited Plan Member since 2021

5 stars rating

What fantastic service and great, easy-to-follow layouts! I love your website; it makes it so helpful to see patterns in my health data. It's truly a pleasure to use. I only wish the NHS was as organized and quick as Healthmatters.io. You've set a new standard for health tracking!

Karin

Advanced Plan Member since 2020

5 stars rating

As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!

Paul

Healthmatters Pro Member since 2024

Use promo code to save 10% off any plan.

shield icon

We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.

At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.

gdpr compliance image hipaa compliance image