This clinical diagnostic tool involves calculating the mathematical relationship between the circulating levels of cortisol, the primary glucocorticoid stress hormone, and DHEA-sulfate (DHEA-S), a major adrenal androgen and precursor hormone. The resulting ratio provides a snapshot of the body’s overall adrenal reserve and its ability to manage chronic physiological stress. An altered ratio can signify adrenal fatigue, excessive stress burden, or an imbalance in the body’s anabolic-to-catabolic hormonal state.
Origin
The utility of this ratio stems from the fact that both cortisol and DHEA are produced in the adrenal cortex, often in response to the same upstream signal, ACTH, yet they possess opposing catabolic and anabolic functions, respectively. Clinical endocrinologists began utilizing this comparative metric to gain a more nuanced understanding of adrenal function beyond simple hormone concentration measurements.
Mechanism
The ratio serves as a surrogate marker for the hormonal balance between catabolism, driven by cortisol, and anabolism/repair, supported by DHEA-S. Under acute stress, cortisol production dominates, but chronic stress can deplete DHEA-S reserves, leading to a high or low ratio depending on the stage of adrenal adaptation. Analysis of this ratio guides targeted therapeutic interventions aimed at restoring adrenal resilience and overall hormonal homeostasis.
We use cookies to personalize content and marketing, and to analyze our traffic. This helps us maintain the quality of our free resources. manage your preferences below.
Detailed Cookie Preferences
This helps support our free resources through personalized marketing efforts and promotions.
Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website, improving user experience and website performance.
Personalization cookies enable us to customize the content and features of our site based on your interactions, offering a more tailored experience.