Supplements to support adrenal function?

[Sunburst001]

Kia ora

Just wondering if anyone has successfully used any supplements to support their body while taking Prednisone?

Or supplements to support adrenal function?

Noho ora mai

🌻

[SnazzyD]

Depends what ‘support’ means. To trigger some part of the process or to play a similar part to cortisol to help you feel better? To my mind, if you take anything that boosts any part of the process you run the risk of the adrenal axis becoming dependent on it to work or that it just steps back because that job is being done already. Hormone balance is so delicate and the body needs to do its thing so I’m never sure if going in with a supplement that is a bit of a blunt instrument is the right thing. There’s often not much research either. With adrenals the body needs time and slow withdrawal of Pred.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

At higher doses your adrenals will be “resting” whilst the Pred gives you chemical cortisol -so no point thinking about that. .. as even when lower not sure there’s point much either.

As for supplements -VitD/calcium as per guidelines and vitK2 to guide calcium to bones rather than arteries.

[Sunburst001]

Thank you both for your responses. By “supporting” my body I was thinking……Prednisone has exacted a heavy toll on most parts of my body and biochemistry. I’m on medication now for osteoporosis, hypertension, Type2 Diabetes…..and have a full hand of ASE’s. I take Vit D, K, calcium, Folic Acid, and cod liver oil.

Would anything else be useful?

🌻

[CocoaChanel in reply to Sunburst001]

My thinking is it’s not just what you take but how much and in what form. I take 9000 iu D3 daily and my blood tests show good levels. I take 2000mg Ca split into 4 doses of 500mg throughout the day - the body doesn’t readily deal with higher in one go. I take K2 highest recommended dose and I take 3500mg omega-3 daily rather than cod liver oil capsules. It’s worth the time researching and reading. Also I stick to a strict diet of no sugar, lowest possible carbs, no alcohol. So far so good - time will tell!

[Sunburst001 in reply to CocoaChanel]

Thank you. That info about the timing is very helpful. My head has been spinning with all the internet has to offer on this subject. Much to sift through - and not always consistency across various sites.

🌻

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to CocoaChanel]

I take 2000mg Ca split into 4 doses of 500mg throughout the day

That makes life a bit more complicated when you need to leave a 2hour window between taking Pred and calcium.

[Sunburst001 in reply to DorsetLady]

Gosh - I didn’t know that. I take my calcium within about 15 mins of Prednisone. What issue does this cause? Can easily move the Ca to lunchtime so it’s easily solved.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Sunburst001]

See this -healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Rabbit090]

I take a few things (sanctioned by my consultants - as in, they know and haven’t said not to):

Calcium+Magnesium+D3+zinc+K2

Folic Acid

Gentle Iron - I have ongoing anemia which may be anemia of inflammation that’s not yet resolved itself

I was taking Omega-3 but have stopped temporarily as I eat a lot of salmon and chia seeds which are good food sources apparently. I’m waiting for my next lipid profile before deciding if I should go back to them.

[Sunburst001 in reply to Rabbit090]

Thank you. Had forgotten that I also take Magnesium alongside the Calcium (brain in the Prednizone 😉😉)

No zinc - need to explore that one.

Wondering about a VitB complex.

[LIVEORDIEHEREIAM in reply to Sunburst001]

Magnesium is another one that can block the absorption of other medications... I know, it's confusing!

[Pixix in reply to Rabbit090]

Are you taking folic acid because your blood tests showed a low amount, please? I had to take them for six months last year, but I didn’t think people took them unless blood tests showed a marked decrease in them. I’d be interested to know as my husbands bloood tests showed a decrease & he’s on folic acid for 3 months, then recheck his blood. I hadn’t heard of anybody taking it like you’d take omega 3 or vitamins…buying them yourself.

[Rabbit090 in reply to Pixix]

My serum folate levels are borderline normal but dropped over the last year so due to a few confounding issues, I take a low dose as a top up:

- Cardiovascular risk (due to LVV and difficult to manage high blood pressure)

- Possible higher demand due to the widespread inflammation

- Hair thinning due to cyclophosphamide infusions (which is how they are treating my LVV)

And while I have a healthy diet, there is only so much spinach and broccoli I can manage in a day.

I have blood tests every 2 - 3 weeks just before the chemo treatments, so easy for me to monitor.

[Pixix in reply to Rabbit090]

Thanks!the post is asking about supplements to help adrenal function, & I didn’t think folic acid fell into that category! People usually mean supplements they can go out & buy, but two of you mentioned folic acid I’d so I thought it was related to the adrenal function!! Thanks!

[Rabbit090 in reply to Pixix]

My apologies.

However, the original post asked what supplements we were taking to address Pred issues “or to support adrenal function”. I only started taking supplements when I started Pred and the rest. I listed all of them so as not to leave any out.

[Pixix in reply to Rabbit090]

Oh, no, please don’t apologise…it was me that was confused!! I was wondering if I should get tested for folic acid lack again, & interested as my hubby is taking it atm! S x

[Sunburst001 in reply to Pixix]

Hi

I started taking it when I started on Methotrexate. I believe this is standard protocol to protect against some of the impacts of MTX - eg hair loss. I have just discontinued the MTX but rheumatologist advised taking Folic Acid @5mg daily to combat the hair loss which is being caused by Prednisone.

🌻

[Pixix in reply to Sunburst001]

Ah, thanks. So it’s a medically prescribed item not one you go out & buy! I think when people ask about supplements (this post is about supplements for adrenal function) they usually mean ones people have gone out & bought! Thanks for your reply, I quite understand!

[Sunburst001 in reply to Pixix]

Hi

Folic Acid is available OTC here in NZ. It’s strongly recommended both pre/pregnancy and in the early stages of pregnancy. I understand it supports cell formation.

🌻

[Pixix in reply to Sunburst001]

Here, too…I just googled! I’d not really heard of it until my blood test results showed I had so little & it took six months to correct,& now my husband is taking them! Still, we get them free through our Dr. I do take magnesium to help cramps, Vit C, & prescribed calcium, but I think a lot of supplements are a waste of money if you eat a balanced diet…& unnecessary for a lot of people. Some here are not what they say on the box, I’ve read, they don’t necessarily contain what they say!

[pmrgcafbcoeliac]

I was advised to take CQ10 which I've been taking for a while. I honestly can't say whether it's actually benefiting or not

[Zebedee44]

Vitamin C was recommended to me recently by the chemical pathologist investigating my hyper cholesterol and in the context of adrenal fatigue. I am struggling at 3mg after eight long years. I felt quite boosted by a glass of fizzing vitamin C each morning along with the Vitamins B12, D and K .

Sadly she also prescribed bempedoic acid and ezetimibe for my high LDL and after three weeks of this I feel quite unwell, with pains all the way up from my feet to my lower back. So as usual with PMR it’s one step forward and two steps back.