Your guide to Cortisol:DHEA-S Ratio.
Explore how Cortisol:DHEA-S Ratio may reveal insights into your body’s health, metabolism, or immune function. See how MitoHealth can help you track it.
August 10, 2024
What is Cortisol:DHEA-S Ratio?
The Cortisol:DHEA-S ratio compares levels of cortisol—a stress hormone—with DHEA-S, a hormone involved in resilience, mood, and energy. This ratio provides insight into how the body is responding to stress and balancing catabolic (breakdown) versus anabolic (repair) activity.
What does it assess?
This ratio is used to evaluate adrenal function, stress load, and aging-related hormone balance. A high ratio suggests dominance of stress-related processes, while a low ratio may point to adrenal fatigue or DHEA-S excess.
How do I optimize my Cortisol:DHEA-S Ratio?
Stress management practices such as mindfulness, deep breathing, and regular sleep can help regulate cortisol. Nutrients like omega-3s, vitamin C, and adaptogenic herbs (e.g., ashwagandha) may support hormone balance and improve this ratio over time.
What do high and low ratios mean?
High ratios suggest prolonged stress or cortisol elevation, which can contribute to fatigue, weight gain, and immune suppression. Low ratios may result from adrenal insufficiency or unusually high DHEA-S. Clinical context and follow-up testing are important for interpretation.
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