Cortisol Regulation and Your Health: The Real Story
Cortisol is a hormone (chemical) produced by the adrenal glands which is essential for life. Without cortisol the blood pressure would drop and shock followed by death would occur. Cortisol is also thought to play a role in general maintenance of the body’s tissues and functions. Conditions of excessive adrenal cortisol production known as Cushing’s syndrome cause high blood pressure, thinning of the skin, storage of fat in the abdomen, defective immune function, and mood disorders such as depression. People who take steroids such as Prednisone, Dexamethasone, and Hydrocortisone in high doses over long periods of time can also develop the complications of Cushing’s Syndrome.
Several products now on the market claim to help regulate cortisol levels to assist in weight loss. The theory is that stress due to our environment or to dieting itself leads to excessive cortisol production which then leads to fat (and weight) accumulation in the body. These products then claim to reduce these harmful cortisol effects on the body.
As a practicing endocrinologist and author of a textbook chapter on the effects of cortisol on the body, I think I understand this problem fairly well. Over the last 25 years I have treated a number of individuals with excessive cortisol levels due to Cushing’s Syndrome. The treatments must be monitored very carefully to avoid dropping the cortisol levels too low, as well as to prevent serious side-effects of the medications themselves. Since cortisol is essential for life, too much lowering of this hormone can be as bad as too much cortisol.
I was fascinated when I first heard about supposed over-the-counter cortisol regulators. From a medical point of view it would be a great advance if these products could do what they claim. I was skeptical however, because if a product could decrease cortisol levels it could also kill you by dropping levels too low. If these products really worked as well as the advertisements stated wouldn’t there be people dying from overdoses?
Since then I have reviewed the claims of adrenal gland regulation by over-the-counter products. I have reviewed their lists of ingredients. These products seem more appropriate as hair gel then cortisol regulators. I found nothing to indicate they have any beneficial effects on cortisol levels what-so-ever. What is amazing to me is that with nothing to substantiate their claims, no regulatory agency has stepped in to stop their sales. I suggest you ask you own doctor their opinion of these supposed cortisol regulators before spending your hard earned money on them.
Dear Dr. Pepper,
Hello. I have been doing research on high cortisol and adrenal disorders on the web. I have been experiencing these types of problems but I’m having difficulty finding a doctor who can help. Maybe you can give me some advice. I have high saliva cortisol levels in addition to high levels of metanephrines in urine. I also have a slightly enlarged left adrenal gland. I would like more information on how you treat your patients with high cortisol? Do you differentiate between Cushing’s disease and the first stage of adrenal fatigue, when cortisol is high? Are there certain drugs that are used to lower cortisol and bring it back to normal levels? I’m not sure if I have Cushiings or any kind of tumor, but my urine hormones keep getting higher, and I’m not sure how I should go about treatment. I’m having terrible symptoms because of it. I am also skeptical of natural treatment and the so called cortisol lowering drugs sold over the counter. I am having trouble finding a good doctor in my area, the Washington DC area. Thanks for your help.
Fatima Jones
Hi Fatima
If this good doctor cannot help you, maybe you could telephone Dr Rind who is in DC, he was very helpful to me, however I am low cortisol adrenal fatitgue.
Dawn
is there anything to the claim that DHEA (over the counter) can help regulate cortisone production?
is there anything to the claim that DHEA (over-the-counter) can help regulate cortisol levels?
Dear Dr. Pepper. I’m in my 40’s now, but had been given Prednisone pills/shots for many years to counter seasonal allergies (approx. from the time I was 12 through my mid 20’s). Is it possible, if I have some symptoms of Cushing’s Syndrome, that such Rx from when I was younger contributed? Do you have anyone in the Southern NJ area you might recommend for metabolism issues/weight gain/lethargy? Thanks.
Although I can’t provide medical advice on this forum I can make some general comments I hope will be helpful. I can’t see how someone treated 20 years ago with steroids could stil be having complications of steroid excess. On the other hand, people treated over long periods of time with Prednisone, dexamethasone, Cortef, hydrocortisone etc. can develop potentially dangerous degrees of adrenal insufficiency once they stop taking this medication. Adrenal insufficiency that develops from steriod use can last for almost a year in some cases.
Taking steroids 20 years ago is not a guarantee that you haven’t developed Cushing’s as a coincidental problem, although that would be extremely rare.
To locate an endocrinologist I would contact a nearby hospital and ask if they have board certified endocrinologists on staff. Most hospitals maintain a referral service just to respond to this type of question.
Best of luck and let us know how things go.
The results of his experiments, which were conducted in the laboratory of senior researcher David R. Smith, the William Bevan Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, appeared as an advanced online publication of the journal Nature Materials.