Skip to main content

Table 2 Assessed methods and results of all selected studies (N = 58)

From: Adrenal fatigue does not exist: a systematic review

Procedure (*)

Number of studies (% of total)

Not different (%)

Decreased (%)

Increased (%)

DAC

29 (50.0 %)

19 (65.5 %)

6 (20.7 %)

4 (13.8 %)

CAR

27 (46.6 %)

14 (51.9 %)

9 (33.3 %)

4 (14.8 %)

SCR

26 (44.8 %)

16 (61.5 %)

7 (26.9 %)

3 (11.5 %)

MSC

22 (37.9 %)

14 (63.6 %)

4 (18.2 %)

4 (18.2 %)

NSC

22 (37.9 %)

13 (59.1 %)

3 (13.6 %)

6 (27.3 %)

AUC

13 (22.4 %)

8 (61.5 %)

3 (23.1 %)

2 (15.4 %)

DST

9 (15.5 %)

6 (66.7 %)

3 (33.3 %)

-

DHEA-S

6 (10.3 %)

4 (66.7 %)

2 (33.3 %)

-

ACTH

6 (10.3 %)

5 (83.3 %)

-

1 (16.7 %)

MST

5 (8.6 %)

4 (80.0 %)

1 (20.0 %)

-

UFC

3 (5.2 %)

1 (33.3 %)

2 (66.7 %)

-

CST

3 (5.2 %)

-

2 (66.7 %)

1 (33.3 %)

MAUC

3 (5.2 %)

-

2 (66.7 %)

1 (33.3 %)

CAR 60 min

2 (3.4 %)

2 (100 %)

-

-

ACTH MST

2 (3.4 %)

2 (100 %)

-

-

4 PM cortisol

1

1

-

-

DST + CRH cortisol

1

1

-

-

DST + CRH ACTH

1

1

-

-

CAR 15 min

1

1

-

-

TCM

1

1

-

-

DHEA-S MST

1

-

1

-

CRST cortisol

1

-

1

-

CRST ACTH

1

-

1

-

OGTT cortisol

1

-

-

1

Cortisol/ACTH ratio

1

-

-

1

  1. Legends: (*): DAC direct awakening cortisol, CAR cortisol awakening response, SCR salivary cortisol rhythm, MSC morning serum (& salivary) cortisol, NSC night salivary cortisol, AUC area under-the-curve (Estimated Cortisol Release), DST dexamethasone suppression test, DHEA-S dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, ACTH adrenocorticotropic hormone, MST mental stress test, UFC 24 h-urinary free cortisol, CST cosyntropin stimulation test, MAUC morning area under-the-curve (morning estimated cortisol release), CRH corticotropin releasing hormone, TCM total urinary cortisol metabolites, CRST corticotropin releasing stimulation test (?), OGTT oral glucose tolerance test