STRESS & ADRENAL HORMONES

Since 1998, ZRT has tested adrenal hormones for 1.4 million individuals.

The adrenal glands, otherwise known as the “stress glands,” enable our bodies to cope with stress and survive. Shaped like two tiny pyramids, they sit atop the kidneys and from this central location mobilize the response to changes in our environment.

Whether stress comes from outside in the form of a natural disaster, or from within like the anxiety we experience before public speaking, it’s the adrenals’ job to help us adapt to the situation.

They accomplish this by secreting key hormones:

Cortisol
The primary stress hormone that fine-tunes our response to the stress of everyday living
DHEA
One of the most abundant hormones in the body, and a precursor to estrogens and testosterone; also balances some of the negative effects of high cortisol
Epinephrine / Norepinephrine
Neurotransmitters that mobilize the body’s natural “fight or flight” response in an emergency

Patients can conduct a saliva cortisol test or a urine cortisol test to assess adrenal hormones. This involves collecting four non-invasive samples over the course of one day, from which ZRT is able to generate results with a diurnal cortisol curve. This four-point graph reveals cortisol levels throughout the day and allows health care providers to pinpoint issues with adrenal gland function.

Diurnal cortisol curves – understanding HPA axis dysfunction

Diurnal curves for chronic stress - understanding epinephrine and norepinephrine patterns

Adrenal glands that are in balance produce adequate amounts of hormones to power us through the day. These hormones impact just about every process in the body, from energy production and immune activity to cellular maintenance and repair. They are key regulators of glucose, insulin and inflammation, and play a major role in bone and muscle building, mood and mental focus, stamina, sex drive and sleep cycles.

Adrenal glands that are out of balance can lead to:

High Cortisol

Results in insomnia, anxiety, sugar cravings, feeling tired but wired, increased belly fat & bone loss

Low Cortisol

Causes chronic fatigue, low energy, food and sugar cravings, poor exercise tolerance or recovery & low immune reserves

DHEA

Out of balance adrenals can lead to high or low DHEA.

Ideal Ways to Assess Adrenal Hormones

Saliva testing has long been used as an accurate and reliable method for measuring cortisol because it’s simple and non-invasive, and patients can collect these samples multiple times per day. It’s easy to assess DHEA in these samples too.

A newer method that’s just as reliable as saliva testing has also been gaining ground – dried urine testing. Studies show that urine is just as effective for measuring cortisol and DHEA levels, and it’s also simple enough for patients to collect multiple times per day.

Due to the nature of the sample collection, there are some difference between saliva and urine testing for diurnal cortisol.

The added benefit to dried urine testing is that epinephrine and norepinephrine can be measured at the same time, so patients who want a complete adrenal assessment can now get all four key markers together.

Cortisol Awakening Response

The Cortisol Awakening Response – also called CAR – reveals more detailed clues that help in assessing adrenal hormone/HPA Axis dysfunction. This testing is often useful for cases of PTSD, major depression, chronic fatigue syndrome and other severe stress conditions.

During a normal cortisol awakening response, adrenal hormone levels should increase 50% in the first 30 minutes after waking for the day and then begin to progressively drop through the afternoon and evening. To capture this response, three – rather than one – morning saliva collections are needed to properly chart the diurnal cortisol curve.

 

Cortisol Awakening Response Sample Collection

6-Tube Collection: Six cortisol collections in 24 hours is the most common method for assessing CAR. Start saliva collection within five minutes of waking for the day, followed by a second sample at 30 minutes, and a third sample at 60 minutes. The rest of the diurnal rhythm can be assessed at the normal time intervals – noon, evening and night (shown below).

4-Tube Collection: Alternately, CAR can be assessed with four cortisol collections in 24 hours. When using this method, collect a sample immediately upon waking, 30 minutes after waking, then at noon or evening, and night.

ZRT Laboratory Cortisol Awakening Response 6-Tube Collection 

Blog: How to Use the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) in Addressing Adrenal Function

Learn More About Adrenal Hormones

 

Recommended for Practitioners:

Webinar: HPA Axis Dysfunction

Datasheet: Cortisol Testing for Adrenal Function

 

Recommended for Patients:

Webinar: The Thyroid & Adrenal Connection

Handbook: Adrenal Stress & Hormone Balance

Blog: 80% of Americans Experience Adrenal Fatigue

Stress Testing Options

To restore the vital balance of hormones, we first need a detailed, accurate measurement of hormone levels. Not just numbers, but an assessment that offers real meaning.

 

Adrenal Stress Hormone Test Kit - ZRT Laboratory

Adrenal Stress Test Kit Includes:

Adrenal Stress Profile – DS & Cx4 (Sample Report)

 

Saliva Hormone Test Kit - ZRT Laboratory

Saliva Test Kit Includes:

Diurnal Cortisol – Cx4

 

Urine Metabolites Hormone Testing Kit - ZRT Laboratory

Urine Metabolites Test Kit Includes:

Sex Streroid Metabolites + UDH II – Dried Urine: Estrogens (13), Progestogens (7), Androgens (8), Glucocorticoids (4), Free Cortisol x 4, Free Cortisone x 4, Melatonin (MT6s) x 4, Crtn

 

Neurotransmitter Test Kit - ZRT Laboratory

Neurotransmitters Test Kit Includes:

Neurotransmitters Dried Urine: GABA, Glu, Gly, DA, Epi, NE, HIST, 5-HT, PEA, DOPAC, HVA, 5-HIAA, NMN, VMA, Trp, Kyn, 3-OHKyn, Tau, Gln, His, N-MeHist, Tyra, KynAc, Xanth, Tyr, Crtn

Neurotransmitters + Saliva Steroids Dried Urine: GABA, Glu, Gly, DA, Epi, NE, HIST, 5-HT, PEA, DOPAC, HVA, 5-HIAA, NMN, VMA, Trp, Kyn, 3-OHKyn, Tau, Gln, His, N-MeHist, Tyra, KynAc, Xanth, Tyr, Crtn Saliva: E2, Pg, T, DS, C

Neurotransmitters + Urine Diurnal Hormones (UDH) I Dried Urine: GABA, Glu, Gly, DA, Epi, NE, HIST, 5-HT, PEA, DOPAC, HVA, 5-HIAA, NMN, VMA, Trp, Kyn, 3-OHKyn, Tau, Gln, His, N-MeHist, Tyra, KynAc, Xanth, Tyr, Free Cortisol x 4, Free Cortisone x 4, Crtn

Neurotransmiiters + UDH II Dried Urine: GABA, Glu, Gly, DA, Epi, NE, HIST, 5-HT, PEA, DOPAC, HVA, 5-HIAA, NMN, VMA, Trp, Kyn, 3-OHKyn, Tau, Gln, His, N-MeHist, Tyra, KynAc, Xanth, Tyr, Free Cortisol x 4, Free Cortisone x 4, Melatonin (MT6s) x 4, Crtn

Neurotransmitters + UDH III Dried Urine: GABA, Glu, Gly, DA, Epi, NE, HIST, 5-HT, PEA, DOPAC, HVA, 5-HIAA, NMN, VMA, Trp, Kyn, 3-OHKyn, Tau, Gln, His, N-MeHist, Tyra, KynAc, Xanth, Tyr, Free Cortisol x 4, Free Cortisone x 4, Melatonin (MT6s) x 4, NE x 4, Epi x 4, Crtn

 

Cortisol Awakening Response Hormone Test Kit - ZRT Laboratory

Cortisol Awakening Response Test Kit Includes:

Cortisol Awakening Response Profile (CAR) – DS & Cx6 (Sample Report)

 

Reference Information

Testing Catalog

Overview of Kits

ZRT Test Directory & Abbreviations

Saliva Reference Ranges

Urine Hormone Metabolites Reference Ranges

Neurotransmitter Reference Ranges

FAQs

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