Johnwen wrote:I am also trying to make the point that cortisol's primary function is in reducing pain, by reducing inflammation. I have not read, but I think I have discovered that without cortisol, tissues inflame, so low levels of cortisol creates pain and inflammation, which has been called autoimmune diseases and/or disorders. The body apparently attacking itself for no reason.
I believe I see where the confusion is coming from I’ll try to explain it as best I can. I’ll see if I can find some links that will further the explanation.
Ok first you must understand that there is two basic types of cortisol floating around inside the body. They are “BOUND,” and “FREE,” (or unbound) The bounded portion makes up about 90% of the total cortisol. About 75% of the bound is attached to Transcortin which is also known as CBG (Cortisol Binding Globulin) the remainder is bound to albumin. This is the necessary form of cortisol in that it is taken into the cells as food and aids in the production of energy. It is also the form that attacks the inflammation process. The CBG is released from the liver and circulates and attaches to the cortisol.
The other form is the FREE unbounded type. Which is the one that the body uses in stressful situations and the one that helps keep us awake during the day. Down at the cellular level it has one job and that is to drive out potassium and intake calcium into the cell, creating a hypertonic state. Which basically means it tenses the cell. In muscle cells this means you now have the power to run away from whatever is stressing the body.
When the body is relaxed the levels of CBG elevate binding higher amounts of cortisol. While under continued stress CBG is lowered and more free cortisol is made available.
This all usually works well. Now lets see what happens when we add an external source. During the day cortisol is released in highs and lows depending on the body’s needs these are bound and some free to meet its needs, it figures to about 11mg over a 24 hour period. Now you add 4mg at ONE POINT and the free fraction now goes through the roof and starts going directly to the cells the liver jumps into action and starts pumping out transcortin. The cells that had damage and are inflamed tense up and drive out the inflammation markers muscles go tight. However there is no crisis however the adrenals kick out high levels of EPI and any pain that was present is masked. The body knowing it needs to get these levels back under control, releases fluid reserves and the kidneys kick into high gear the liver begins to open up CBG receptors and starts pushing them out to the gall bladder for removal. As the levels of free cortisol begin to wane the CBG still remains high and the adrenals have shut down production of cortisol. Any cortisol that is free now becomes bound and levels of free are lacking so the pituitary glands signal the adrenals to start production but due to the imbalance of CBG in the system all production is bound and signals go to that adrenals to produce more cortisol which then starts to rise the liver’s production of Transcortin. This roller coaster ride continues until a steady state is maintained and reestablished. In the mean time all that bound cortisol needs to go somewhere since there’s to much to use it all and the liver is over loaded. It goes to the bodies warehouse that can be accessed rapidly if needed Rapid access, is a place called BELLY FAT!
Now lets keep doing this every day eventually what happens is the body begins to prepare for the daily storm. It begins raising the production CBG which starts lowering the free cortisol and the body starts feeling fatigued and in anticipation epi and endogenous production of cortisol become depressed and pain starts to become more noticeable.
The brain says “IT’S TIME FOR OUR BLAST!” Down goes the pill and the roller coaster ride starts.
Eventually the body will start to just maintain higher levels CBG which will then call for higher levels cortisol to maintain a balance which means the adrenals will be required to produce more and since the cells diet of bound cortisol is maxed out the excess go’s to the belly. Now seriously does this sound like a way to threat adrenal fatigue??
You’ll note I stayed away from other effects this has on the body and focused just on the key players involved here.
I often question why they don’t make a extended release pill so the body can see lower supplementation but I answered my own question in that continued use of such a pill would result in adrenal failure if it were used for a extended amount of time.
This why the get in, get it done, and get out type of treatment is the gold standard with cortisol.
The thing is Johnwen, you are still arguing from the point of view that the body is making as much cortisol as it needs.
How does this scenario work out when the body is not making as much as it needs?
Really, how?