Reading the curve
The curve shows healthy function at each level of cortisol. It peaks in the middle band and falls away on both sides.
Too little and too much cortisol both cause harm.
Chapter 01The basics
Cortisol has a dose-dependent effect
Too little and too much cortisol both cause harm. The body needs a middle band, where cortisol does its everyday work of regulating energy, inflammation, blood pressure and mood.
Fig. 01 · Healthy function across cortisol levels
Drag the marker
Just right · Normal actions
01 · The basicsToo little: deficiency
- Vasodilation, ↓ blood pressure
- ↓ glucose, ↓ free fatty acids, ↓ amino acids
- ↑ cytokines, fever; altered immune cells
- Malaise, fatigue
- ↓ Na⁺, ↑ K⁺
- Anorexia, weight loss, nausea, vomiting
Just right: normal actions
- Gluconeogenesis and glycogenesis
- Protein and fat catabolism; ↓ peripheral glucose uptake
- Vascular tone; Na⁺ / K⁺ balance
- Suppresses inflammation (IL-1, IL-6, TNF)
- Modulates immune cells: ↓ lymphocytes and eosinophils, ↑ neutrophils
- Cognition, memory, mood, circadian rhythm
Too much: excess
- Muscle catabolism, proximal myopathy
- Osteoporosis, fragility fractures, poor Ca absorption
- Skin fragility, striae, bruising, slow wound healing
- Memory impairment, anxiety, depression
- ↓ GnRH, ↓ growth hormone, central hypothyroidism
- ↑ glucose, insulin resistance, visceral fat, atherosclerosis
Aim for the middle band
The body needs a middle band, where cortisol does its everyday work of regulating energy, inflammation, blood pressure and mood.
Drag the marker along the curve to move between the three bands.