Are you tired? Do you have cravings for salt? Often experience blood sugar drops? Nauseated more often than not? Feeling weak? Seeing changes in your skin and hair? Don't tolerate stress well? Your adrenal glands might not be working how they should.
You adrenal glands sit on top of your kidneys and produce hormones. Hypoadrenalism occurs when the adrenal glands aren't making enough glucocorticoids or mineralocorticoids, hormones that decrease inflammation and balance water with electrolytes. Although severe hypoadrenalism, like Addison’s disease, is rare, mild hypoadrenalism may be much more
common.
An ACTH (adrenocorticotropic
hormone) stimulation test is used to diagnose hypoadrenalism by showing a
decrease in the adrenal reserve.
This is the most specific test for hypoadrenalism, but an insulin induced
hypoglycemia test may also be used, as many patients with hypoadrenalism have
reactive hypoglycemia.
Several nutritional factors are
involved in decreased adrenal function, which may be why it's so common.
- Hypoadrenal patients tend to be low in vitamin C, as the adrenal glands contain the most vitamin C in the body. Vitamin C supplementation may improve mineral metabolism, reduce hyperpigmentation, and increase adrenal response.
- Deficiency of vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) inhibits the secretion and action of adrenal hormones.
- Magnesium deficiency may result in decreased plasma glucocorticoid levels and adrenal hypertrophy.
- Small, frequent meals can help avoid low blood sugar.
- Avoiding caffeine, sugars, and alcohol keeps blood sugar stable.
- Licorice root can help keep adrenal hormones from being degraded.
Gaby, A. (2011). Nutritional
medicine (pp. 1118-20). Concord, N.H: Fritz Perlberg Publishing.
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