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Macronutrients provide some difference in cortisol production.  Carbs, in this study, were found to increase adrenal and extra-adrenal equally, whereas fats/proteins stimulated adrenal cortisol more than extra-adrenal.

low dose hydrocortisone therapy (defined as 5-10 mg), in this study, was used to treat CFS.  This study found an improvement in symptoms in these patients.  Additionally, low cortisol was found in these patients with CFS.  Their conclusion, was that low adrenal function is a component of CFS and low dose hydrocortisone therapy is an effective treatment.   Now, is the low cortisol as the result of increased metabolism as well?

This study reveals CFS to be low adrenal cortisol output problem. In this study, low dose cortisol (hydrocortisone) therapy improved symptoms of fatigue and improved the CRH adrenal stimulation of adrenal cortisol production.

A study by scientists in a UK university has shown the scale of the prevalence of a condition that can lead to various cardiometabolic diseases. The study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine journal on Tuesday (January 4) has prompted calls for changes to healthcare policy after researchers revealed, for the first time, the scale of the impact of the condition associated with benign tumours that can lead to type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Up to 10 per cent of adults have a benign tumour, or lump, known as an 'adrenal incidentaloma' in their adrenal glands which can be associated with the overproduction of hormones including the stress steroid hormone cortisol that can lead to type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Previous small studies suggested that one in three adrenal incidentalomas produce excess cortisol, a condition called mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS). An international research team led by the University of Birmingham carried out the largest ever prospective study of over 1,305 patients with adrenal incidentalomas to assess their risk of high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes and their cortisol production by comparing patients with and without MACS.

Review of the data points to poor quality of evidence dealing with DHEA in post-menopausal women with normal adrenal function.  Yet if DHEA is low, which is >95% produced by adrenals in women, then how can the adrenal function be "normal".   The meta-analysis found no improvement in libido and/or sexual function, and no improvement in lipids, glucose, weight... was noted.  Essentially not positive or negative effects were noted.  Abstract only available here, so dosage is a question.

this study showed salivary cortisol to be an "excellent" means to evaluate both those with adrenal disease and adrenal dysfunction.  Salivary test is a good tool to evaluate the free active cortisol.

Leptin inhibits hormone production from the adrenal cortex, but increases catecholamine release from the adrenal medulla.

Good case review of secondary adrenal insufficiency.  A common cause of low sodium and needs to be considered in elderly patients.  Also, low cortisol is associated with increased ADH.  In the case of adrenal insufficiency, the negative feed back of cortisol to the HPA is lost and recreation of CRH, which is an ADH secretagogue, will increase ADH secretion.

Animal study points to methylB12 as the cause of an increase in adrenal medulla norepinephrine production.  This has significant implications in individuals with hypertension.

Salivary hormone testing again shown to gold standard.  This study looked at salivary cortisol levels in those with Cushing's disease, Cushing's syndrome, and with adrenal incidentaloma.   The results make one scratch their head.  The sensitivity and specificities of salivary cortisol were very high, exceeding at least 94% with most > 96 and 97%.  So, why the opposition?  Ignorance I guess.

low adrenal hormone output and sex hormone output associated with RA; low adrenal output may pose a more direct effect.  This is likely why pregnancy is associated with a decrease with RA and the postpartum is associated with an increase.

low dose hydrocortisone therapy, 5-10 mg, shown to be effective short-term therapy in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.  Additionally, and very important, this study found no adrenal function suppression at these doses.

this study revealed symptom improvement with hydrocortisone treatment in those with CFS. Pre/post treatment was with serum cortisol and not salivary cortisol.  This is a weakness of the study.  The starting dosage of 25-30 mg hydrocortisone is high and with inadequate evaluation, this high dosage could have resulted in high dosage and adrenal suppression.  

Salivary cortisol testing shown to "be a practical non-invasive method for evaluating adrenal response in healthy prepubertal children".

long-term glucocorticoid therapy commonly produces long-term adrenal suppression.

Article finds that carbohydrate meals cause increase in extra-adrenal cortisol more than protein and fat.  This is via 11beta-HSD1.

Interesting animal study found that diabetic animals associated with increased aromatase expression in adrenal cortex, kidneys, and other tissue, androgen receptors were decreased in adrenal glands, and ER-alpha expression in the kidneys was increased by 159%.

Decreased adrenal steroid production occurred in men with obesity.  Estrone positively correlated.

Study finds salivary cortisol testing is "reliable" measure of chronic cortisol production.  This study found similarity between diurnal cortisol and dexamethasone suppressed cortisol and adrenal gland volume based on literature review.

Only abstract available here.  Low adrenal hormone output and low sex hormone production associated with increase RA.  Causation not proved here.