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DHEA Cortisol Ratio Assessment

Meaning

DHEA Cortisol Ratio Assessment is a critical clinical metric that evaluates the functional balance between Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and cortisol, two major steroid hormones primarily synthesized by the adrenal glands. DHEA is generally regarded as an anabolic, restorative hormone, whereas cortisol is a catabolic, stress-response hormone. The resulting ratio offers a vital functional snapshot of the adrenal reserve and the body’s long-term capacity for stress adaptation. An imbalanced ratio often points toward chronic Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation and may signal accelerated biological aging.