Why You Should Avoid Adrenal Extract

Are you constantly drained and stressed? Many people believe our nonstop, caffeine-fueled lifestyles wear down the adrenal glands, and some swear by adrenal extracts to reverse the damage. Read on to learn why that view is likely incorrect.

What are the adrenal glands?

Your adrenal glands rest on top of your kidneys. Each gland has two sections: an outer layer (the adrenal cortex) and an inner core (the adrenal medulla).

The adrenal cortex releases several hormones into the bloodstream that influence metabolism and sexual characteristics.

Cortisol helps regulate how your body uses fats, proteins, and carbohydrates and also dampens inflammation. Aldosterone, another hormone, controls sodium and potassium levels in the blood and helps keep blood volume and blood pressure stable.

What does the inner gland do?

The adrenal medulla produces hormones that prepare you for physical or emotional stress. Adrenaline (epinephrine) is the classic “fight-or-flight” hormone. It speeds up the heart, directs more blood to the brain and muscles, and helps the body rapidly generate sugar for energy.

Noradrenaline (norepinephrine) constricts blood vessels, which helps raise and maintain blood pressure during stressful events.

What is adrenal exhaustion?

Adrenal glands usually malfunction because of injury or disease. For example, Addison’s disease is caused by damage to the adrenal glands that results in insufficient production of cortisol and aldosterone.

Some people, however, blame the chronic stress of modern life for poorly functioning adrenals.

The idea is that continuous overstimulation of the adrenal medulla leads to fatigue (often called “adrenal exhaustion”), reducing its ability to perform normally. Some proponents recommend adrenal extracts as a treatment.

Supporters also claim these extracts can enhance the immune system and supply missing hormones. There is no evidence to validate these claims.

What are adrenal extracts?

Adrenal extracts are produced from the glands of animals like cows and pigs collected at slaughterhouses. Extracts may be made from the whole gland or only the outer sections. The primary active component in these preparations is the hormone hydrocortisone.

In the early 1900s, adrenal extracts were used for many conditions and were often administered by injection. Besides Addison’s disease, they were used for:

• surgical shock
• burn injuries
• morning sickness
• allergic reactions
• asthma

As safer and more effective medications were developed, their use declined.

Nowadays, adrenal extract is sold only in oral form. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned imported adrenal extract in 1989 and recalled injectable forms in 1996.

The agency also warned the public after discovering that more than 80 people contracted infections from contaminated products.

The FDA regulates dietary supplements differently from drugs. It does not evaluate these products for safety and effectiveness before they reach the market. The agency collects reports of adverse effects and can remove supplements if they are unsafe or marketed with deceptive claims.

Do they work?

Proponents argue adrenal extracts increase energy and memory and offer natural stress relief.

However, there is no scientific foundation for “adrenal fatigue” as a medical diagnosis, according to the Mayo Clinic. Many clinicians will tell you that adrenal fatigue is not a recognized condition. Likewise, there’s no research confirming that adrenal extracts can restore adrenal function.

Using adrenal extracts may also cause harm. Taking adrenal supplements when they’re not needed can suppress your own adrenal glands. If that happens, it may take months for your glands to recover normal function after stopping the supplements.

Because the FDA doesn’t oversee vitamins and dietary supplements the way it does medicines, the ingredient list on adrenal extract labels might not match what’s inside.

The takeaway

It’s understandable to be frustrated by unexplained symptoms, but using unproven treatments can make things worse. A physician can test for conditions that affect the adrenal glands and prescribe the proper therapy.

If you’re experiencing persistent fatigue, consult a doctor to exclude other likely causes. Don’t self-diagnose.