Adrenal steroid metabolite
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About Total Cortisone
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About Total Cortisone
Overview and History
Cortisone is a steroid metabolite in the glucocorticoid family. Biochemically, it is the oxidized, less active form of cortisol produced by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzymes and is commonly measured in urine as a stable indicator of cortisol turnover.
Historically, studies of cortisone and cortisol interconversion helped map local tissue control of glucocorticoid action and clarified adrenal physiology. Measuring cortisone provides a window into enzyme activity, systemic steroid clearance, and the balance between hormone activation and inactivation across body tissues.
Interpreting Highs and Lows
Elevated total cortisone in urine may reflect greater overall cortisol production, shifts in enzyme activity that favor conversion of cortisol to cortisone, altered clearance, or recent exposure to external steroid compounds. Interpreting a high value requires comparison with cortisol, cortisol metabolites, and timing samples to understand adrenal rhythm.
Low total cortisone can indicate lower adrenal output, increased local conversion of cortisone back to active cortisol, faster excretion, or timing and collection variables. Single cortisone values are most informative when evaluated alongside diurnal saliva cortisol measures, urinary cortisol metabolites, and other Hormone Zoomer markers.
Featured Test
Total Cortisone is included in the Hormone Zoomer to evaluate adrenal steroid production and the balance of cortisol activation versus inactivation. As part of the panel it helps clarify stress rhythm patterns, enzyme-driven metabolism, and steroid clearance, supporting a more complete, individualized view of hormonal function for clinical interpretation.
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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
