NVDM athlete collection · 4 biomarkers & scores
Cortisol Panel
A hormone snapshot with timing attached.
4 biomarkers and calculated estimates · Finger-prick collection.
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Your starting point
Who is this for?
For athletes following up a specific cortisol or adrenal-hormone question with a clinician.
The endurance connection
Why it matters.
Cortisol responds to time of day, sleep and exercise. Consistent collection makes comparisons more useful. This panel is not a standalone test for overtraining or a guide to how hard to train tomorrow.
IOC: energy availability and athlete health ↗Know what you’re measuring
Every marker, explained.
Cortisol, DHEA-S, DHEA-S:Cortisol Ratio, Visceral Fat Estimate.
Counts follow the store. Profiles and calculated estimates are labeled separately from individual blood measurements.
| Marker | What it can tell you | Why it matters for an athlete |
|---|---|---|
| CortisolHormones | An adrenal hormone with a strong daily rhythm. | Sleep, collection time and recent exercise influence the result. A single value does not grade training stress or diagnose overtraining. MedlinePlus: cortisol testing ↗ |
| DHEA-SHormones | An adrenal androgen that changes with age and some adrenal conditions. | Adds adrenal hormone context. It is not a validated score for recovery, fatigue or fueling adequacy. MedlinePlus: DHEA-S ↗ |
| DHEA-S:Cortisol RatioCalculated score | A ratio of the two hormone results. | No validated target establishes ideal recovery or rules out overtraining in endurance athletes. IOC: energy availability and athlete health ↗ |
| Visceral Fat EstimateCalculated estimate | An estimate related to fat around internal organs, not a direct imaging measurement. | Adds metabolic-health context. It should not become a weight-loss target during a demanding build. IOC: energy availability and athlete health ↗ |
Baseline · Build · Follow-up
Make testing part of your season.
This is a planning framework for a 12–16-week build. Your results and symptoms determine whether you need an earlier check.
01
Choose the question
Use this panel for a specific hormone question agreed with your clinician.
02
Choose the morning
Keep collection time and recent sleep consistent. Avoid an immediate post-race sample for a resting comparison.
03
Repeat with purpose
Use clinician-directed timing. No cortisol target tells you when to begin the next build.
How often should you retest?
- CortisolThere is no validated routine retest interval for measuring training recovery. Agree on the clinical question and repeat at a comparable time of day if advised. MedlinePlus: cortisol testing ↗
New or persistent symptoms deserve assessment between scheduled tests. There is no universal quarterly requirement for every marker.
A result worth comparing
Before you collect.
- Follow your kit instructionsUse the collection and fasting instructions supplied with your kit. Drink water normally; do not arrive dehydrated or deliberately overhydrate.
- Record your contextNote collection time, recent training, illness, sleep, medications and supplements. Do not stop prescribed medication without advice.
- Choose a representative dayFor a resting comparison, avoid collecting immediately after a race, hard workout, overnight travel or while acutely ill. Wait until sleep and hydration are back to your usual pattern.
Turn results into a next step.
Bring your results together with training load, fueling, symptoms and any supplements. Choose one clear action with your clinician or sports dietitian, then agree which markers to repeat and when.
Persistent fatigue, missing periods, recurrent bone stress injuries or unexpectedly abnormal results need clinical follow-up. A normal panel does not rule out RED-S or explain every change in performance.
Evidence and further reading
These sources explain the biomarkers and testing context. They do not validate these specific kits as a diagnosis of RED-S or a guarantee of improved performance.