iThei mdcdaelcinfd o c elllllrllll ThofthThseand depletes DHEA production to adapt. Without enough DHEA, the
body is unable to produce sufficient testosterone, which can affect the
sex drive.
While DHEA levels drop with age, various diseases—including autoimmune
conditions, cancers, diabetes, heart disease, dementia, and chronic fatigue—
have been associated with low DHEA. When DHEA levels are down, our
immune system becomes more sensitive to pathogens and free radicals.
If secreted in excess, cortisol injures the body’s tissues. The main role of
cortisol is to keep the body fueled up during a stressful time. Cortisol
shifts the body into a tissue-breakdown phase (catabolic) instead of
a tissue-repair phase (anabolic). Under normal conditions, there is a
balance between catabolic and anabolic phases. An anabolic steroid,
DHEA helps with tissue repair, counterbalancing the effects of cortisol.
However, DHEA becomes depleted during the chronic stress response.
Chronic cortisol release can result in the depletion of many nutrients af-
fecting our physiology. Cortisol releases amino acids from the muscles to
help create more glucose. One of these amino acids is glutamine, which
is crucial for the maintenance of the gut lining integrity and has been
found to be depleted in people with leaky gut. Excessive cortisol output
also causes a reduction in secretory IgA (SIgA). SIgA is secreted in various
mucosal surfaces and helps with viral and toxin neutralization and stop-
ping bacterial colonization.
Cortisol also inhibits vitamin D activity, preventing calcium absorption.
This leads to the breakdown—instead of building—of bones. Cortisol
also impedes detoxification due to inhibition of liver function.
In addition, prolonged cortisol can cause many issues, including more se-
cretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, poor wound healing, easy bruis-
ing, infertility, central obesity, and mood and memory disorders due to
increased turnover of neurotransmitters.
When cortisol runs out and the rest of the body is depleted, a sickness
response occurs in which fatigue, impaired cognition, sleep disturbances,
anorexia, and depressed mood can occur. As cortisol has anti-inflamma-
tory and immune-suppressive effects, the person may become more sus-
ceptible to allergies and inflammation.
Low cortisol results in a lack of suppression of sympathetic tone and
catecholamines, making us more sensitive to the effects of epinephrine.
We may experience anxiety, an increased sense of smell, and a heart rate
that is elevated or on the higher end of normal (this should be noted as