Adrenal fatigue does not exist: a systematic review
Cadegiani FA, Kater CE
Published in BMC Endocrine Disorders
Methodology
Systematic review of 58 studies assessing cortisol status in individuals with fatigue using direct and indirect adrenal axis tests.
Key Findings
Methods and results were highly heterogeneous and no consistent association was found between fatigue and impaired cortisol response; the majority of studies were of poor methodological quality.
Conclusions
There is no substantiation that "adrenal fatigue" is an actual medical condition; unexplained fatigue warrants proper clinical evaluation.
Limitations
Heterogeneous testing protocols and populations; unable to pool quantitatively.
Outcomes Measured
Unexplained fatigue warrants proper clinical evaluation rather than attribution to adrenal fatigue.
No consistent association was found between fatigue and impaired cortisol response across 58 studies.
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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