Addison’s disease is an adrenal condition wherein certain crucial hormones are not produced in sufficient amounts, leading to complications within the body. Here is a brief look at Addison’s disease, and a discussion of five supplements that can play a part in managing and recovering from this condition.
What Is Addison’s Disease?
Addison’s disease, also called primary adrenal insufficiency, is a chronic condition wherein the adrenal glands do not sufficiently produce cortisol. Cortisol is a crucial hormone that helps the body handle physical stress. It regulates blood pressure, heart rate, and other bodily processes. Addison’s disease also affects the production of aldosterone, another crucial hormone that regulates blood salt levels and urination. Addison’s disease is rare, affecting only 1 of 100,000 people in the U.S., and those afflicted are usually those between the ages of 30 and 50.
Most cases of Addison’s disease are caused by an autoimmune attack, sometimes the result of a rare, underlying inherited syndrome. When such an attack occurs, it causes slow, progressive damage to the outer portions of the adrenal glands. Symptoms set in gradually and can include fatigue, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, dehydration, low blood pressure, and other conditions. It can also lead to a variety of additional complications.
Someone with Addison’s disease must follow medical guidance in order to manage the disease, usually by way of taking medication, managing stress levels, and making healthy life choices.
Supplements for Addison’s Disease
A few specific dietary supplements have properties that can help someone with Addison’s disease manage their health. These can be a useful addition to a holistic approach to managing the disease, but are not a replacement for prescription medication.
DHEA: Short for Dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA is a hormone naturally produced by the adrenal glands, but not sufficiently in those with Addison’s disease. Research shows that DHEA taken as a dietary supplementcan help those with Addison’s disease in a few ways. Studies show that those with Addison’s who supplemented with DHEA saw improvements in well-being, bone mineralization, body composition, energy levels, and reduced fatigue. That explains why DHEA is one of the most-recommended supplements for those with Addison’s disease.
Vitamin D: Deficiency in vitamin D is associated with multiple types of adrenal disorders. Supplementing with vitamin D could be beneficial for those with Addison’s disease because some of the most common medication for Addison’s disease can cause vitamin D deficiency. Taking vitamin D could be especially helpful for those taking corticosteroids to treat Addison’s disease. Be sure to discuss this approach with your physician.
Calcium is another supplement that could be beneficial for those with Addison’s who take corticosteroids. This is because corticosteroids can affect bone health, thereby increasing the necessity of calcium intake to preserve the strength of bones.
Ashwagandha is an herb, found in some herbal complex supplements, which could help with adrenal disorders, including adrenal insufficiency. Ashwagandha is potentially helpful because it helps the body regulate physiological responses during times of stress, such as during changes in cortisol levels.
Vitamin B complex: A combination of B vitamins are potentially helpful because they have properties which protect the adrenal glands. Getting plenty of B vitamins can help decrease the cortisol stress response. For these reasons, a vitamin B complex supplement could be beneficial for someone with Addison’s disease.
If you or someone you love has Addison’s disease, then consider how these five supplements could be a worthwhile component to managing the disease. Some of these can interact with certain medications, so it is highly recommended that you consult your healthcare provider before taking any of these supplements for the first time.