Adrenal stress hormone marker
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About Morning Cortisol
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About Morning Cortisol
Overview and History
Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex and classified as a glucocorticoid. It is synthesized from cholesterol via enzymatic steps and circulates bound to carrier proteins; free cortisol is the biologically active fraction that influences tissues throughout the body.
Regulated by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and the circadian clock, cortisol normally rises in the early morning and falls through the day. Clinically, cortisol’s role in metabolism, immune modulation, and stress response has been studied extensively since the mid-20th century, making it a core marker for evaluating adrenal timing and systemic stress signaling.
Interpreting Highs and Lows
Higher-than-expected morning cortisol may be associated with recent or ongoing physiological stressors, disturbed sleep timing, acute illness, shift work, or factors that shift HPA-axis activation earlier or higher in the day. Isolated elevation should be reviewed alongside other timepoint measures, symptoms, and metabolites to determine pattern and persistence.
Lower-than-expected morning cortisol can reflect a blunted or flattened diurnal rhythm, delayed HPA activation, or reduced morning adrenal output relative to typical wake-time levels. Low morning values are best interpreted with the full Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR), daytime cortisol curve, and urinary adrenal metabolites to clarify overall adrenal function and rhythm.
Featured Test
Morning cortisol is included in the Hormone Zoomer to map the timing and magnitude of morning HPA activation alongside salivary CAR and urinary adrenal metabolites. It helps identify timing shifts, morning energy signaling, and contributions to broader hormonal or metabolic patterns, supporting provider interpretation and individualized follow-up.
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Our tests run on a proprietary 3Dense microchip technology platform that boasts unrivaled specificity and sensitivity. While most other labs carry only CLIA certification, we're CAP-accredited by the College of American Pathologists.
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Mary Beth Augustine
DCN, RDN, FAND- Lead Clinical Educator
Suzanne Barker
MS, RDN, LD, CTTS, CGP- Clinical Educator
Suzette Garcia
MSc- MHNE- Clinical Educator
Brooke Mader Ganev
MS, CNS, LDN, FDN- Clinical Educator
Adair Anderson
MS, RDN, LDN- Clinical Educator
Lillie Luu Nguyen
DCN, CNS, LDN- Clinical Educator
Jason Barker
ND- Clinical Educator
Emaline Brown
ND- Clinical Educator
Dana Filatova
DCN, CNS, LDN- Clinical Educator
Jessy Dhanjal
ND- Clinical Educator
Nour Amri
MS, LDN, CNS, CKNS- Clinical Educator
