Cortisol Saliva test

Member Stories Lab Tests
#1

Got a Saliva test done at ZRT, here are the results. Does this indicate that my Adrenals need some help? Are they over-worked or fatigued?

Cortisol Morning (saliva) 6.8 ng/ml 3.7-9.5
Cortisol Noon (saliva) 3.6H ng/ml 1.2-3.0 (out of range)
Cortisol Evening (saliva) 2.6H ng/ml 0.6-1.9 (out of range)
Cortisol Night (saliva) 0.3L ng/ml 0.4-1.0 (out of range)

MY DHEA was out of range high once, and towards the top end of the range recently.

#2

Your definately stressed and yea your adrenals are struggling. Its strange that both your cortisol and DHEA are high. How did you test DHEA?

And did you test DHEA-S or just DHEA?

#3

Dec’2009
DHEA-Sulphate: 583 (80-560)

June’2010
DHEA-Sulphate: 544 (80-560)

#4

Thats a tough one Texas.

Your adrenals are certainly working overtime there is no doubt about that so yes you do have an adrenal problem. Usally the body will give up DHEA before cortisol, so keep an eye on your DHEA.

The only thing I would suggest is to look at anything (other than this medical problem) that is causing you stress and try and relax a bit.

Run it by your doc, he may be able to tell you what those labs mean. Im not sure.

#5

I am just wondering could I be hyperthyroid. Could a hyper thyroid cause high cortisol levels? I kind of feel some of my symptoms match it. My T3, T4 have been towards the high end of the range, with a normal TSH. I have lost 30 pounds in the last year (could have been a strict diet though).

Anyone heard of high cortisol relation with hyperthyroid?

#6

Tex,

A typical adrenal fatigue case would show over range at 8 AM and then go under range at either noon or 4 PM as well as evening.

With that low an evening level do you have trouble sleeping? ZRT usually includes a doctor written evaluation of your profile, usualy about half a page typically.

My profiles before treatment were above at 8 AM and then too lo the rest of the day. An 8 AM serum cortisol would also be useful.

The first hormone doc I had fussed over cortisol profiles quite a bit. His approach was to apply topical cortisol in the AM and sometimes at noon to “rest” the adrenals. Problem is cortisol is catabolic to testosterone, so if you have a lot around it will suppress T. Guess I had fewer problems with being very tired/sleepy in the afternoon on this protocol, and did sleep better, but little other relief to typical post fin symptoms. By the way, if you take too much topical cortisol you can get blood pressure surges so be alert if you try this route - I am not a doctor. Have since abandoned this approach and the doc who prescribed it.

Check out the phosphatidylserine (PS) related posts in this thread:
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3000&hilit=phosphatidylserine

I take ~ 300 mg of DHA conjugated PS every morning (400 a day for a week to get started) using a product based on Enzyomatic’s SharpPSgold… Feel it makes a difference, not cheap though. Hoping ChemiNutra gets their fully EPA & DHA conjugated product released soon.

kazman

#7

Thanks Kazman. Well, so my case doesn’t look like a typical adrenal fatigue types, because I have over the range noon and evening cortisol. I guess my adrenals are working hard to compensate for something. Having said that, I find it strange that I am fatigued post lunch to about 8 pm, and then fresh till I sleep. Though my sleep is a bit disturbed.

  1. Now does that I mean the high cortisol (from noon to evening) is causing the fatigue during that time?
  2. I also have an upset stomach (IBS) problem. Could this be the cause of my high cortisol?
  3. The measures you suggested are probably for low cortisol, and not required for me at this moment. But I need to find a way to help my adrenals, else they will become fatigues soon, right?
#8

Texas,

Check this out. I just read this yesterday. This is very well respected site for knowledge of thryroid problems. Have you had a Reverse T3 test done yet?

According to this website if you have high levels of RT3 it doesn’t matter wheter or not your cortisol is high. This is still hypothyroidism, it is just treated with different thryoid hormones than you would use if you were hypo, but did not have high RT3.

However, it should be noted, you would still need to address your high or low cortisol.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/20 … everse-t3/

I will be doing the same 24 hour saliva test you did next week. I suspect I have very low cortisol.

#9

Sorry I did not explain, it was in my post in the link. Phosphatidyleserine helps the body regulate cortisol production, and supplementing can help your body to become resensitized to its own levels (see the vrp sublink in my post in the other thread)… In you case I would recommend taking it late morning, to control the afternoon overproduction. Serious atheletes take it just before an intense workout as it has been scientifically shown to reduce the normal post workout cortisol surge. YMMV,

kazman

#10

I have low cortisol, did u test rt3?