Cortisol

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The Human Effect Matrix looks at human studies (excluding animal/petri-dish studies) to tell you what what supplements affect Cortisol

Level of Evidence	Supplement	Change	Magnitude of Effect Size	Scientific Consensus	Comments
B	Fish Oil		Minor	33% See all 4 studies	A possible reducing effect of fish oil supplementation on cortisol
B	Caffeine		Minor	66% See all 3 studies	In general, cortisol appears to be increased at high doses of caffeine; lower doses may not have an effect.
B	Dehydroepiandrosterone		Minor	50% See all 5 studies	Highly unreliable influences on cortisol, with decreases seen in studies where androgens and estrogens are also increased (with no significant influence or possibly an... show increase in other studies)
B	Vitamin C		Minor	66% See all 4 studies	1g of Vitamin C taken prior to exercise is associated with unreliable reductions in the cortisol spike seen during exercise
B	Phosphatidylserine			100% See all 4 studies	A decrease in exercise-induced cortisol has been noted with the bovine cortex sourced PS only, soy based supplements (which are usually the only ones sold now due to fear... show of Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease) have been shown to have outright no effect at doses up to 750mg
B	HMB			100% See all 3 studies	No significant influence on cortisol levels following acute ingestion
C	Yohimbine		Minor	100% See 2 studies	Appears to increase cortisol following ingestion
C	Fenugreek			100% See study	No significant influence on cortisol levels following fenugreek ingestion
C	Melatonin		Minor	50% See 2 studies	Mixed results, a possible increase when measuring whole-day cortisol levels (when taken in the AM) with no augmentation of stress-induced cortisol increases; may reduce... show cortisol if taken prior to sleep, however
C	Alcohol			100% See 2 studies	No significant alterations in cortisol levels seen with alcohol ingestion in moderate levels
C	Beta-Alanine			100% See study
C	Nicotine			100% See study	No significant influence on cortisol levels
C	Magnesium			100% See study	No significant influence on cortisol seen with magnesium supplementation
C	5-HTP		Minor	100% See study	At least one study has noted increased in salivary cortisol following acute ingestion of 5-HTP supplementation.
C	Theaflavins		Minor	100% See study	A decrease in exercise-induced cortisol secretions has been noted with theaflavin consumption in high doses (above 1,800mg daily)
C	Ecdysteroids			100% See study	No demonstrated changes in cortisol levels with ecdysterone consumption
C	Gamma Oryzanol			100% See study	No significant influence on cortisol levels with prolonged supplementation
C	Licorice		Minor	100% See all 3 studies	Appears to increase cortisol at higher doses (500mg or more), with no significant influence at lower doses; this is related to the glycyrrhizin content, and would not occur... show in deglycyrrhizinated supplements
C	Mucuna Pruriens		Minor	100% See study	In chronically stressed men, prolonged ingestion of mucuna pruriens appears to be able to reduce cortisol concentrations
C	Soy lecithin		Minor	100% See study	May reduce cortisol during a social stress test at 2g
C	Schizandra Chinensis		Minor	-- See study	Conditional influences on cortisol, with an apparent increase in cortisol of beginner atheltes at rest with decreases in exercise-induced cortisol in beginners and lower... show overall cortisol exposure in trained athletes
C	Salvia Sclarea		Minor	100% See study	A decrease in cortisol may result following inhalation of clary sage, but the magnitude of reduction (2.5%) is very small
C	Rose Essential Oil		Minor	100% See study	A decrease in cortisol appears to result from the anti-stress response of rose oil inhalation
C	Glutamine			100% See study	No significant alterations in cortisol noted
C	Branched Chain Amino Acids			100% See study	No significant interactions with BCAA supplementation and cortisol
C	Arachidonic acid			0% See study
C	Ornithine		Minor	-- See study	Increases have been noted with intravenous ornithine (not in human trials table) while decreases have been noted following treatment of hangovers. The most practical study... show of using ornithine as a preworkout supplement failed to find any effect
D	Lavender		Minor	100% See study	A decrease in cortisol has been noted acutely with aromatherapy
D	Boron			100% See study	No significant effect on cortisol has been noted with supplemental boron

References

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