Cortisol DHEA Ratio Of Longevity

The cortisol DHEA ratio plays a key role in understanding how your body manages stress and maintains hormonal balance. A healthy interaction between cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) is essential for regulating the stress response, emotional stability, and overall resilience. Studies show that abnormal cortisol DHEA ratios, whether too high or too low, are linked to conditions such as depression¹ and aggression². Maintaining an optimal cortisol DHEA ratio helps regulate various body systems and slows down aging (Chahal and Drake 2007). In Healsens, you can explore educational information about how lifestyle factors relate to your perceived stress and well-being. Reflecting on how you feel after workouts and busy days can help you understand general wellness trends and guide lifestyle tweaks. You can learn about typical ways people track their hormones with their healthcare provider.

This article was last reviewed by Svetlana Baloban, Healsens, on January 24, 2020. This article was last modified on 4 March 2021.

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When the body’s ability to maintain its normal stress adaptation is compromised, a process known as stress maladjustment can ensue. This phenomenon is now recognized as a chronic stress response, often identified by terms like pregnenolone steal, cortisol escape, or an elevated cortisol to DHEA ratio. The longer one remains in a state of chronic stress, the more pervasive its negative impact becomes on various aspects of physical well-being.

People experiencing prolonged stress often notice shifts in mood; some research explores how hormones and lifestyle adjustments might support a steadier sense of calm.

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Musculoskeletal disorders

We have already mentioned that cortisol dysfunction entails disorders of the musculoskeletal system⁷. Some studies explore possible links between stress hormones and muscle health; talk with a clinician about any concerns.

Moreover, multiple regression analysis showed that the independent risk factor for sarcopenia was a serum cortisol/DHEA-S ratio ≥ 0.2⁸. Sarcopenia is a type of muscle loss that occurs with aging and/or immobility.

Immunity and Cortisol DHEA Ratio

In addition, an increase in the cortisol / DHEA-S ratio with age (Phillips et al. 2007) is associated with immune dysfunction and the risk of infection in the elderly due to the fact that DHEA-S enhances immunity. However, cortisol has an inverse immunosuppressive effect (Buford and Willoughby 2005). It is also worth adding that DHEA-S is known for its antioxidant properties⁹.

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Metabolic Syndrome

Various studies have shown that both cortisol and DHEAS are related to metabolic syndrome¹⁰, and type 2 diabetes¹¹. While high cortisol concentrations are associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, high DHEA-S levels appear to be protective. By far, the strongest associations were observed for the cortisol / DHEA-S ratio. According to observations, the higher the coefficient, the greater the risk of metabolic syndrome. “Researchers are studying how stress hormones relate to metabolic wellness; keep focus on balanced lifestyle habits.”

Alzheimer’s Disease

Scientists are investigating whether stress hormones play a role in brain health; findings are still emerging. For example, some studies have found a link between the cortisol / DHEA-C ratio and a decrease in hippocampal volume¹². It is worth saying that a decrease in the volume of the hippocampus is one of the early diagnostic signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

This finding has been confirmed by other studies, observing the relationship between cortisol / DHEA-S and hippocampal atrophy (HA)¹³¹⁴. For example, such a direct relationship was observed in patients with Cushing’s syndrome¹⁵. Moreover, HC volume partially recovered following treatment-induced cortisol decrease. However, not all studies support this association within normal cortisol levels in healthy people¹⁶.

To sum up, the ratio of cortisol / DHEA sulfate can reflect:

• psychological health (high level of anxiety, depression, etc.).
• more favorable hormonal profile which implies higher levels of DHEA sulfate and a lower cortisol / DHEA-S ratio.
• increased risk of sarcopenia.
• increased risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
• mortality in general, which is strongly associated with the cortisol / DHEA-S ratio

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Assessing Exercises

DHEA (Aldred et al. 2009; Cumming et al. 1986) and DHEA-S (Tremblay et al. 2004) have been shown to increase in response to active exercise. Paying attention to how your body feels during workouts is a practical way to adjust intensity. A higher level of cortisol and/or a lower level of DHEA-S may indicate significant physical stress. This can be valuable information for assessing whether the workout is sufficiently intense or if a lighter approach is needed to prevent overtraining. However, resistance training showed a stronger increase compared to endurance training (Tremblay et al. 2004). It’s also worth noting that trained and untrained people can cause different hormonal responses to exercise. So, untrained people experienced more significant increases in DHEA and cortisol levels¹⁷¹⁸. Such result was observed in both young people and people over 60 years old¹⁹.

How to define intensity of exercise?

For this purpose, the researchers used heart rate (HR) indicators. So the exercise was stopped as soon as the participants had reached 75% of their maximum HR. You can also determine maximum HR by the Tanaka formula:

So, for a 65-year-old person, the maximum heart rate will be 162 beats per minute. Consequently, 75% of this figure will be 121 bpm. Healthwise, muximum loads are not advisable. Therefore, it is recommended to use between 50% and 80% of the maximum.

Research has shown that 16 weeks of regular exercise decreased cortisol/ DHEA ratio by nearly 30%. In addition, athletes with the highest performance levels and the greatest amount of training had the lowest ratio. So,

Adrenal/DHEA Restoration

High Сortisol DHEA Ratio

Low Сortisol DHEA Ratio

So, as discussed in previous chapters, exercise has a positive effect on DHEA and cortisol levels. Besides, your doctor may recommend taking licorice extract. This is because licorice helps the adrenal glands prevent the breakdown of cortisol. In some cases, cortisol supplementation may be required.

Either with increased and decreased cortisol / DHEA-S ratio, an adrenal support program is recommended. So, try to balance your intake of protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates. It will also be very beneficial to increase your vegetable intake to get the required amount of vitamins and minerals. To this end, foods high in vitamin C, B-5, B-6 and magnesium will assist in maintaining adrenal health.

Ordering Blood Tests in the Netherlands

If you want a deeper look at your hormonal wellness, consider speaking with your clinician about the types of lab work they recommend.

FURTHER READING

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