Cortisol and DHEA

The steroid hormone cortisol is the most important glucocorticoid in humans and, like the other steroid hormones, is derived from cholesterol. Cortisol is synthesised in the adrenal gland and secreted in accordance with the natural circadian rhythm. In stressful situations, cortisol levels increase up to 10-fold. In the metabolism, cortisol affects the carbohydrate balance, protein degradation and fat metabolism. Permanent stress can lead to overactivation of the HPA axis. Patients under permanent stress often exhibit a pronounced, permanent activation of the cortisol axis. There are clear correlations between permanently high stress levels and various diseases, such as fibromyalgia, neurodermatitis, ulcerative colitis and cardiovascular disorders. Cortisol also blocks the immune defence and therefore has an immunosuppressive effect. Cortisol deficiency can also be associated with illness, which can culminate in burnout syndrome if it persists for a longer period of time.

The hormone DHEA is mainly synthesised in the adrenal cortex and is the antagonist to cortisol. Its main task is to regulate the hormone metabolism. From the age of 25, DHEA levels decrease by approx. 2 % per year. The effects of DHEA include the following: Prohormone for additional sex hormones, improvement in immune defence, increase in stress tolerance, regulation of body weight, positive mood. The ratio of cortisol to DHEA is regarded as a measure for the ageing process: The cortisol/DHEA ratio increases with progressing age.