Many doctors will deny that "adrenal burnout" is a valid medical diagnosis. Other doctors, especially those who treat chronic fatigue syndrome, believe that sub-clinical adrenal dysfunction is an important part of this complex illness and report great improvements in their patients when this problem is treated. Because zinc plays an important role in many biochemical reactions in the body, its role in adrenal function has been carefully studied.
Cortisol
Cortisol, which is released by the adrenal glands, is your body's primary stress hormone and plays a crucial role in the "fight or flight" response. When cortisol is released, it prepares your body to react by enhancing your brain's ability to use glucose and diverting your body's energy away from metabolic activities like digestion and growth that are not needed for short-term survival. Unfortunately, sometimes these normal responses to stress become overactive and contribute to a host of problems like obesity, insomnia, depression and memory impairment.
Zinc Suppresses Cortisol
In a 1990 study published in "Biological Trace Element Research," 13 young adults of both sexes were given oral zinc supplements at doses between 25 and 50 mg while 14 subjects were given 20 mg of physiological saline. The data showed that zinc supplementation significantly reduced cortisol secretion. This study suggests that zinc supplementation can play an important role in treating the effects of chronic stress.
DHEA and Chronic Fatigue
Another important adrenal hormone is dehydroepiandrosterone, which is usually referred to as DHEA. Chronic fatigue patients have significantly lower levels of this hormone in their bloodstream, according to a 2005 study published in "Neuroendocrinology Letters." While this study was unable to establish a causal connection between serum zinc levels and DHEA, it did find that there were significant positive correlations between the two: higher zinc levels were associated with higher DHEA levels while lower zinc levels were associated with lower DHEA levels.
Supplemental DHEA is useful for treating adrenal insufficiency and chronic fatigue, but it can also alter the levels of reproductive hormones, cause increased acne, facial hair, aggression and changes in liver cells. For that reason, no one should consider taking this substance without medical supervision.
How to Treat Adrenal Exhaustion
If you are concerned about your adrenal glands, there are some safe practices that you can adopt. The first is to avoid excessive use of stimulants like caffeine, sugar and alcohol, which stress the adrenal glands. Eat a healthier diet rich in foods containing ample amounts of B vitamins, as well as zinc, chromium, and manganese.
Be careful not to take too many supplements because they can upset your body's own balance of nutrients. For example, taking too much zinc can impair iron absorption and interfere with the zinc-copper balance in your body. As always, the best source of advice about your adrenal glands is a doctor, preferably one who specializes in endocrinology or, if you have the condition, chronic fatigue.
References
- Jacob Teitelbaum: Vitality 101: The Adrenal Gland
- Mayo Clinic: Stress Management
- "Biological Trace Element Research"; Zinc Acutely and Temporarily Inhibits Adrenal Cortisol Secretion In Humans; J. Brandao-Neto, et al.;1990
- "Neuroendocrinology Letters:' Decreased Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate But Normal Insulin-like Growth Factor in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): Relevance For the Inflammatory Response in CFS; M.Maes, et al.; October 2005
- Dr.Wilson; Adrenal Burnout Syndrome; Lawrence Wilson, M.D.; January 2011
- Module Supplement: Endocrine Systems: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
Member Comments