Thorne Adrenal Cortex is a dietary supplement that has gained popularity for its purported ability to support healthy adrenal gland function. The adrenal glands, located on top of the kidneys, play a vital role in regulating the body's response to stress by producing hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. While some individuals believe that adrenal cortex extract can combat fatigue, enhance stress management, and balance cortisol levels, it's crucial to understand the potential benefits, side effects, and precautions associated with its use.
What is Adrenal Cortex Extract?
Adrenal extract is a chemical derived from the adrenal glands of animals such as cows, pigs, and sheep. The adrenal glands produce hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, that regulate the body's response to stress.
Thorne Adrenal Cortex features a unique bovine adrenal cortex extract, providing a natural source of adrenal hormones and precursor nutrients. It is formulated to support healthy adrenal gland function, which is crucial for stress response, energy levels, and overall well-being.
Purported Benefits of Thorne Adrenal Cortex
Advocates of adrenal cortex extract claim that it can offer a range of benefits, including:
- Combating Fatigue: By supporting healthy adrenal function, Thorne Adrenal Cortex may help combat fatigue and promote a more energetic feeling throughout the day.
- Enhancing Stress Management: It can potentially enhance the body's ability to manage stress.
- Balancing Cortisol Levels: Thorne Adrenal Cortex may support balanced cortisol levels, the primary stress hormone. Balanced cortisol is essential for healthy sleep, blood pressure, and immune function.
- Addressing Symptoms of "Hypoadrenal Syndrome": In the 1940s, adrenal cortex extract was used to combat symptoms associated with what was then commonly referred to as ‘hypoadrenal syndrome’ and hypoglycemia, i.e., low blood sugar.
- Addressing Various Conditions: These days, many people turn to adrenal cortex extract to address such issues as stress, fatigue, depression, rheumatoid arthritis, skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, inflammation, low blood sugar levels, autoimmune conditions, and low blood pressure, to name but a few.
It is important to note that there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
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Side Effects and Precautions
While Thorne Adrenal Cortex is marketed as a natural supplement, it's essential to be aware of potential side effects and take necessary precautions:
- Safety Concerns: There isn't enough reliable information to know if adrenal extract is safe or what the side effects might be.
- Source of Adrenal Extracts: Adrenal extract is made from adrenal glands gathered from slaughterhouses and possibly from sick or diseased animals. There is concern that some diseases may be transferred to humans, but there are no reports of this. Cases of bovine spongiform encephalitis, “mad cow disease,” have been reported when it comes to the oral application of adrenal cortisol extract.
- Allergic Reactions: People with allergies or who are hypersensitive may stand a stronger chance of having an adverse reaction when taking adrenal cortex extract.
- Stimulatory Effects: Possible stimulatory side effects include irritability and insomnia.
- Corticosteroid Excess: When taken in high dosages, you may experience symptoms that are similar to corticosteroid excess, including salt and water retention, increased appetite, weight gain, and becoming more susceptible to infections.
- Liver Congestion: Your liver may also be affected because, while its main function is to clean the body from toxins, adrenal fatigue may be accompanied by liver congestion and paradoxical reactions.
- Compromised Body Systems: Forcing an upped adrenal function in a body that is already fragile could cause an imbalance that may result in your body crashing.
- Low Immune System Function: Adrenal extract might increase the risk of infection in people with weakened immune systems. Avoid use.
- Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if adrenal extract is safe to use when pregnant or breastfeeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
- Interactions: We currently have no information for Adrenal extract overview.
- Unintended Consequences: Taking adrenal supplements that you don’t need can make your adrenal glands stop working. If that happens, it can take your glands months to start working correctly again after you stop taking the supplements.
Dosage and Regulation
There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of adrenal extract might be. It is important to keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe, and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates dietary supplements differently than they do drugs. The FDA does not review these products for safety and efficacy before they are marketed. They receive reports of adverse reactions and can take supplements off the market if found unsafe or sold with misleading claims.
Adrenal Fatigue: A Controversial Diagnosis
Many people think our 24/7, over-caffeinated modern lifestyle wears out our adrenal glands, and swear adrenal extracts can help reverse the effects. The theory is that constant overstimulation of the adrenal medulla causes it to become fatigued (a condition referred to as “adrenal exhaustion”). This prevents it from working at full capacity.
However, there is simply no scientific basis for “adrenal exhaustion” as a diagnosis, according to the Mayo Clinic. Many physicians will tell you that adrenal fatigue does not exist. Similarly, there’s no research to back up claims that adrenal extracts can help reset adrenal function.
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The Importance of Consulting a Healthcare Professional
Before considering Thorne Adrenal Cortex or any other adrenal support supplement, it's crucial to consult with a qualified healthcare professional. They can help determine if you have a condition affecting your adrenal glands and prescribe appropriate medication. If you are having symptoms of chronic exhaustion, see a doctor to rule out other probable causes.
A healthcare professional can assess your individual needs, evaluate potential risks and benefits, and guide you on the most appropriate course of action. They can also help you implement lifestyle and dietary changes and consult with a qualified professional with experience of the condition.
Concerns Regarding Steroid Hormone Content in Supplements
A study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that many over-the-counter dietary "adrenal support" supplements contained detectable amounts of steroid hormones, including pregnenolone, budesonide, androstenedione, cortisol, and cortisone. All the supplements studied contained a small amount of thyroid hormone and most contained at least 1 steroid hormone. This raises concerns about the potential for unintended hormonal effects and the lack of transparency in supplement labeling.
Adrenal Cortex Extract and the Body's Interconnected Systems
Adrenal Fatigue does not develop overnight. Instead, it is a condition that develops over a period of years, eliciting a slow decline in adrenal function that has had an effect on your whole body, including your body’s entire hormone system. One would think that taking adrenal cortex extract to support the adrenals would be a great idea for adrenal fatigue, as it may help address many of the symptoms associated with the condition. This might be true had your adrenals operated in a vacuum with no interrelation with other body systems.
Consider your thyroid health, for example. When your adrenals are compromised, so too is thyroid function, resulting in a set of symptoms that may seem unrelated to the adrenal glands. If you have other complications along with adrenal insufficiency, as nearly all people with Adrenal Fatigue do, all your body’s needs must be taken into consideration, not only those of the adrenal glands.
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