Adrenal fatigue often occurs in individuals after a sustained period of excessive stress. Although stress hormones, such as cortisol, remain high during troubled periods, the adrenal glands eventually crash. A state of low cortisol then exists, resulting a wide range of symptoms. Certain nutrients taken in the right dosages can help.
Adrenal Fatigue
Cortisol, a steroid hormone, originates from the adrenal cortex and plays a major role in a number of body systems. Low cortisol can cause hypoglycemia, sugar cravings, confused thinking, poor sleep and low energy levels.
Vitamin B5
Also known as pantothenic acid, vitamin B5 can help nourish the adrenal glands and return the cortisol production back to normal. Vitamin B5 converts into a substance called acetyl co-enzyme A, a precursor to all the steroid hormones. Not all individuals benefit from taking the vitamin, although those that do typically respond best when using between 500 to 1,000 mg per day.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C plays a major role across all cells in the body, providing a powerful antioxidant effect in all water-soluble areas of the body. The adrenal glands require a continual supply of the nutrient in order to produce cortisol, making vitamin C supplementation highly relevant to sufferers of adrenal fatigue. Dr. Michael Lam, an American physician familiar with adrenal fatigue, recommends that patients try different forms and amounts of the nutrient; many require somewhere between 1,500 and 5,000 mg per day; some cases may benefit from more.
Magnesium
All stress states increase the rate at which the body uses up magnesium. In his blog, Dr. James Wilson suggests that individuals with adrenal fatigue increase their intake of this important mineral, which plays a role in the function of more than 300 enzymes in the body. Wilson recommends that each individual takes 400 mg of chelated magnesium each day and significantly more during high-stress episodes.
Expert Insight
Dr. Lam explains that the individual requirements of adrenal fatigue sufferers can vary greatly. With this in mind, he encourages patients to avoid a "shotgun" approach and instead adjust dosages of nutrients slowly, looking for any differences in your condition.
References
- Dr Lam: Adrenal Fatigue
- "Adrenal Fatigue: 21st Century Stress Syndrome"; Dr James Wilson; 2002.
- Dr Wilson's Blog: Magnesium in Adrenal Fatigue
