A biochemical marker representing the relative balance between the adrenal androgen dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA-S) and the primary glucocorticoid cortisol, often assessed via salivary testing. This ratio serves as an index of adrenal resilience under chronic demand. It provides a snapshot of anabolic versus catabolic adrenal output.
Origin
This ratio is rooted in the shared precursor relationship within the adrenal cortex, where DHEA and cortisol are synthesized from cholesterol via distinct enzymatic pathways. It reflects the preferential shunting of precursors under different signaling conditions. The clinical relevance stems from this shared biosynthetic origin.
Mechanism
Interpreting this ratio provides insight into the functional state of the adrenal glands, particularly concerning stress adaptation and anabolic versus catabolic signaling within the endocrine system. A low ratio suggests significant chronic stress impacting DHEA production relative to cortisol secretion. This imbalance points toward compromised adrenal reserve. Remember: Do not add any of syntaxes: !DOCTYPE, lang=, head, meta, charset, viewport, width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0″, title, head, body, p, code. That is mandatory.
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