Adrenal Profile

Adrenal levels of cortisol and DHEA's are indicative of acute and or chronic mental and or physical stress.  Prolonged stress causes increased secretion of cortisol and can eventually lead to hypertrophy of the adrenal cortex, adrenal exhaustion and immune suppression.  DHEA's is the main androgen in both men and women and its levels decline naturally with age.  Reduced levels of DHEA's may result in fatigue, poor immune function, weight gain, premature ageing, memory loss and poor concentration.

Melatonin is a neuropeptide predominantly produced by the pineal gland.  Melatonin is secreted in a distinct circadian rhythm - stimulated by darkness.  It is inhibited by light and independant of sleep.  The phase of the circadian rhythm is influenced by day length (increasing in amplitude in the winter and decreasing in spring as the light becomes longer) or artifical light.  

The levels of melatonin in the body tend to decrease with age and low levels may result in sleep distrubances such as insomia, poor immune function, depression and other mood disorders.  Due to its circadian rhythm, melatonin must be collected at midnight in the dark and again on rising between 6-8am.

Adrenal profile patterns

• Anxiety - high cortisol, low DHEA
• Fatigue - low cortisol, low DHEA
• Depression -  low cortisol, low progesterone, low testosterone, thyroid imbalance
• Insomnia - low melatonin, high cortisol, low progesterone