New Labs - High DHEA, Low Cortisol, High Melatonin

mle_ii · Post by **mle_ii** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:59 pm

Ok, there's more to the testing than this, but the gist of it is that I have:
High DHEA and DHEA ratio
Low Cortisol levels (though within range)
High Melatonin (only during daytime)

I'll post more info when I find out more. Dr is saying adrenal fatigue.

cludwig · Post by **cludwig** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 11:06 am

Hi Mike,

Mine has always come back the opposite....normal cortisol and very low DHEA. I have been taking DHEA transdermally for 6 months and it has helped ....that and replacing some of my estrogen and progesterone...but that won't help you..LOL.

Love,
Cristi

mle_ii · Post by **mle_ii** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 4:13 pm

Yeah, what sucks for me is that I can't take any hormone for it, though I suppose perhaps cortisol (glucocorticoids) would be of benefit.

So right now I'm taking supplements that supposedly help with adrenal fatigue.

harvest_table · Post by **harvest_table** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:54 am

Mike,

It's interesting your results came back with high DHEA since most of those with imflamatory problems and adrenal fatigue have low DHEA levels.

What do you make of that? Thanks for your updates.

Joanna

Carol Arnett · Post by **Carol Arnett** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:20 am

Can you tell me what DHEA means? I am constantly fatigued and would be most interested. As far as I know, mine has never been checked. Carol

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 8:24 am

Me too, Carol. In fact I have a note to myself to buy some DHEA but I can't remember why I wrote it. Maybe something to do loweing Cortisol...........

Love, Shirley

cludwig · Post by **cludwig** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 11:17 am

Hi Carol and Shirley,

DHEA and Cortisol are made in the adrenal glands and these hormones help us deal with stress. When you have too much stress year after year the adrenal gland stops functioning correctly and you can feel tired,depressed and other symptoms. I think others here think we all might have some level of adrenal fatigue coping with our MC. Tex also found a study saying that DHEA will help with inflammation. I had mine tested through a naturopath...an endocrinologist will also test for it although their lab ranges are for full blown diseases. You would have to be extremely ill for them to treat you. You can also find DHEA supplements at the health food store.

I have been taking DHEA for about 6 months and I feel it has helped...not a miracle or anything though.

Love,
Cristi

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:49 pm

Thanks Christi,
It must have been something you or Tex wrote (or a combination) that caused me to think I wanted some.

GNC has a sale here the fist 10 days of every month. I'll try to get over there this month. Missed it last time.

Love, Shirley

mle_ii · Post by **mle_ii** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 6:36 pm

harvest_table wrote:Mike,

It's interesting your results came back with high DHEA since most of those with imflamatory problems and adrenal fatigue have low DHEA levels.

What do you make of that? Thanks for your updates.

Joanna

Actually those with adrenal fatigue and inflammation can also have high DHEA and low cortisol. Actually if you look up adrenal fatigue it's more commonly associated with low cortisol levels, think Addisons Disease.

Here's some info from the report I got on these lab tests.

The 10 PM - 12 AM cortisol level is below the reference range. Late night cortisol levels may be a good indication of baseline adrenal gland function since they typically represent the the lowest level during the day. Low late night cortisol levels suggest a degree of adrenal fatigue with regard to baseline circadian activity.

And here's info on the DHEA results:

DHEA is above the normal reference range. High DHEA levels are indicative of lowered capacity to endure physiological or psychological stress/trauma/injury, and decreased immune response.

And the DHEA:Cortisol level:

An increased secretion of DHEA relative to cortisol can represent a normal response to acute stress. Elevation of the DHEA:Cortisol ratio may be associated with exogenous DHEA administration, acne, panic disorders and polycystic ovary syndrome.

And it goes on to say:

A pattern showing one or more decreased cortisol levels in the presence of elevated DHEA is clinically significant. This pattern suggests physiological maladaption, with decreased cortisol production by the zona fasciculata and increased DHEA production by the zona reticularis. This shift results in decreased ability to tolerate physiological or psychological stress. This pattern may be seen in the presence of panic disorders or dysglycemia. Low cortisol with high DHEA has also been noted in adrenal fatigue with concurrent DHEA supplementation.

So seeing how glucocorticoids help our disease, and being that I don't produce as much. And that I have panic attacks and don't do well under stress these endocrine results seem to match up with what is happening with me. Also this adrenal fatigue can be due to chronic stress, given that colitis/disease is a chronic stress and that I'm under a lot of personal chronic stress as well, it fits here as well.

Also, the higher than normal Melatonin during the day points to my problems with fatigue/sleepyness during the day. Supposedly getting more light during this time should help here. I also read that body temperature can change during the day, so I suppose that if you were to take your temperature throughout the day you'd find a correlation with sleepyness and low body temperature. In other words high melatonin causes low body temperature, low melatonin equals higher body temperature.

Mike

mle_ii · Post by **mle_ii** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 6:39 pm

cludwig wrote:Hi Carol and Shirley,

DHEA and Cortisol are made in the adrenal glands and these hormones help us deal with stress. When you have too much stress year after year the adrenal gland stops functioning correctly and you can feel tired,depressed and other symptoms. I think others here think we all might have some level of adrenal fatigue coping with our MC. Tex also found a study saying that DHEA will help with inflammation. I had mine tested through a naturopath...an endocrinologist will also test for it although their lab ranges are for full blown diseases. You would have to be extremely ill for them to treat you. You can also find DHEA supplements at the health food store.

I have been taking DHEA for about 6 months and I feel it has helped...not a miracle or anything though.

Love,
Cristi

From what I've read this would indeed help, but only in those with low levels of DHEA, if you have high levels, then it can cause problems if you supplement as well. I'm guessing you'd have physical and psychological symptoms, one symptom would be increased susceptability to stress and more anxiety or panic attacks if you had too much. Looks like acne can also show in those with high DHEA.

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 8:17 pm

Sounds like I shouldn't be playing around with the supplement without testing. Thanks Mike.

Love, Shirley

artteacher · Post by **artteacher** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 10:51 am

Hi Mike,

Thanks for posting your results; you never know who it will help. A endocronologist is testing me in January for Addisons, or parathyroid problems. I've been looking up the tests, and doing research, and it's complicated, but fascinating. I didn't even know there was a parathyroid gland (well, actually four of them).

Love, Marsha

mle_ii · Post by **mle_ii** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 3:42 pm

It appears that both you and I were right Christi. In the first stages of adrenal fatigue it is indeed high cortisol levels, but in the last stage (the one I'm in) the cortisol production shuts down and is low.

You can read more here:
http://www.drlam.com/A3R_brief_in_doc_f ... atigue.cfm

Mike