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HPA Axis

HPA Axis

Has any connection been established between dysbiosis and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction?

Dr. Amy Nett: There are a number of different ways that dysbiosis potentially contributes to HPA axis dysfunction. One of...

What do you recommend for someone who has adrenal fatigue and needs some safe starchy carbs but also has blood sugar issues?

Laura Schoenfeld: Good question, Angel. I actually see a lot of blood sugar issues in people that aren’t eating enough carbs...

Why does Chris call it “HPA axis dysfunction” versus “adrenal fatigue”?

Dr. Amy Nett: That was mentioned briefly in the Week One information, and Chris is going to go into that...

Follow-up from last Q&A, recent Q&A where he asked about a DUTCH result with high cortisol and cortisone with severely blunted cortisol awakening response that he hacked from the saliva kit,” which is really cool. Congrats for doing that. “I know sex hormones are not covered in this level. I’m just wondering if you could briefly help to interpret this result. Total DHEA normal, etiocholanolone normal, androsterone high normal at 2,391, testosterone high at 221, total estrogen high at 41.7. All estrogen metabolites high with methylation activity marker in the center of the gauge. Patient is not on a prescription. I’m curious of differential diagnosis for high sex hormones. Patient is a 32 year old male.

Chris Kresser: Let me go here and look at something. So when etiocholanolone is low or normal and DHEA is...

Twenty-four-year-old female, 5’3”, 163 with complaints of anxiety, depression, thirst, alternating IBS-C and -D, hormone imbalance and infertility, history of miscarriage, poor sleep quality, brain fog, hypertension, chronic headaches with normal brain MRI. Does use progesterone cream but no other prescription. DUTCH test pending. Blood panel: A1c at 4.8. Fasting glucose, 71, so lower end there for blood sugar. Ferritin, 50, middle of the range. Iron sat, 41 percent, same, TIBC, 320, was all normal. RBCs are lab-high at 5.66. Hemoglobin lab-high at 16.9. Hematocrit lab-high at 50. Urine specific gravity was 1, CRP normal, homocysteine, 7. Vitamin D, 28. Findings suggest dehydration, but urine is so dilute and frequent polydipsia seems paradoxical. The previous testing about a month ago confirms the RBC indices. Curious that this may be related to dysfunction of the renin angiotensin aldosterone and erythropoietin system. Or maybe we’re just overthinking this. Any thoughts?

Chris Kresser: No, I don’t think you’re overthinking this. I think it’s our job as functional medicine providers to follow...