Adrenal Fatigue

Adrenal Fatigue

Adrenal Fatigue is a common myth that is pushed by people trying to sell tests and supplements as quick fixes for what is essentially standard fatigue (or a normal reaction to stimulant usage that has nothing to do with your adrenal glands).

Likely culprits include: over-training, stress, hydration status, sleep quality, and poor nutrition. Adrenal Insufficiency is something different entirely. This is a very serious medical condition that requires prompt care from a licensed medical professional. As Cadegiani and Kater (2016) found in their extensive search of the literature: “This systematic review proves that there is no substantiation that “adrenal fatigue” is an actual medical condition. Therefore, adrenal fatigue is still a myth.”

There is no medical organization, including the American Medical Association, the Endocrine Society, and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, that considers “Adrenal Fatigue” a diagnosis. For more information concerning the myth of Adrenal Fatigue and its tests, click here.

With regards to the effects of stimulants:

When you supplement with caffeine the body up-regulates central adenosine receptors, subsequently caffeine decreases in potency. If you decrease your dose of caffeine, or become abstinent, you will have a withdrawal period (headaches, fatigue) which is simply due to the same mechanism. Eventually, the adenosine receptors down-regulate and you return to baseline.