Guest Author - Jim Lowrance

With Adrenal Fatigue being one of my areas of interest, I watch for updated research in regard to this subject. Many times I will come across medical research articles in regard to this syndrome but it will be referred to by other names, such as "mild adrenal insufficiency" or simply a "low cortisol state". Some reputable medical entities still do not believe that an Adrenal Fatigue type adrenal disorder exists (less that full-blown adrenal insufficiency), including surprisingly, the Mayo Clinic.

With Adrenal Fatigue, as with more severe adrenal adrenal insufficient states, the hormone "Cortisol" is most commonly the one that becomes low or deficient. It is the hormone that manages stress in the body on a daily basis and provides energy for the body, in a cyclic rhythm. In the recent medical research article I will refer to below, it is referred to as "hypocortisolemia" (low cortisol).

It seems as if some in the medical community avoid the term "Adrenal Fatigue", for reasons I have yet to understand. I do believe in the case of some medical people, they feel anything less than true, full-blown adrenal insufficiency, simply does not exist and so anything recognized that is less than this more severe form of adrenal dysfunction, is a pseudo-syndrome (not legitimate) in their opinion. The problem I have with this attitude is the fact that a number of research articles going back more than 15 years, recognize mild adrenal dysfunction or a sub-clinically low functioning of the adrenal glands. This includes research articles on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Fibromyalgia and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which have been proven in a number of medical research studies, to present with low cortisol levels. There have in fact been trials of treatments for these disorders, using a cortisol replacement drug (hydrocortisone), with some results being favorable and some not favorable, which could be a matter of finding the correct therapeutic dose of the drug, that will relieve symptoms without adverse side effects. In studies of PTSD patients, there have been favorable outcomes using cortisol replacement in controlled studies, to manage the symptoms of this stress disorder. The research article I'm referring to below, also points this out.

I do not believe it is a coincidence that these syndromes that present with low cortisol, including; CFS and PTSD, are also referred to as "stress syndromes". I also believe that Adrenal Fatigue is a low-cortisol, stress-syndrome and strongly associated with these other syndromes.

The article I wish to refer to published about two years ago is entitled; "Stress-induced hypocortisolemia diagnosed as psychiatric disorders responsive to hydrocortisone replacement" (PubMed Website). It is an interesting medical research article in that, it points out the fact that severe early life stressors, can result in later life cortisol hormone deficiencies that are mild to moderate. The article also points out that this mild adrenal insufficient state they refer to in the article as; "hypocortisolemia", is often mistaken for psychiatric disorders. This correlates with the fact that many people who were suffering Adrenal Fatigue, attest to the fact that their symptoms were considered to be psychosomatic, before they were thoroughly tested for cortisol levels and found to be deficient. This research article recommends testing hormone levels, including cortisol, before prescribing psychotropic medications (antidepressants). A major importance of the article as well, is the fact that low cortisol that is not severe enough to be true adrenal insufficiency, is again recognized. Some of us choose to call this sub-clinical hypo-functioning of the adrenal glands; "Adrenal Fatigue". If medical professionals prefer a different term then they should officially name the syndrome, so that more people in the medical community will recognize it, test for it and treat it.