High Cortisol Supplements for Men: What the Evidence Says

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products that meet our evidence standard.

High cortisol supplements for men have thin evidence behind them. Ashwagandha has randomized trial data showing lower cortisol, but the trials were short, mostly small, and not run in men over 50 specifically. No over-the-counter supplement is proven to treat a true cortisol disorder like Cushing’s syndrome, and ashwagandha has been linked to liver injury in some people.

This page covers who was studied, what the doses were, what the safety reports say, and which symptoms mean a doctor visit rather than a capsule. If you take prescription medication or have a liver or thyroid condition, read the safety section before you buy anything.

Table of Contents

Do High Cortisol Supplements Work for Men?

Partly. A 2025 meta-analysis of randomized trials found that ashwagandha lowered measured cortisol but did not clearly change how stressed people felt. The other supplements below have less trial data behind them.

What the Best Pooled Data Shows

That meta-analysis pooled seven trials on cortisol and six on perceived stress, covering 488 participants in total. The trials lasted at least two weeks and used at least 250 mg a day. Cortisol fell by an average of 1.16 micrograms per deciliter (95% confidence interval 0.69 to 1.64 lower). Perceived stress did not change by a statistically significant amount, and the authors flagged the gap between the two results and the lack of long-term safety data.

Endocrinologists interviewed by PBS News went further and said there are no proven over-the-counter treatments for high or low cortisol, despite marketing for ashwagandha and magnesium. One of them, Dr. James Findling of the Medical College of Wisconsin, said he worries about people taking unregulated supplements when it is not always clear what is in them.

My read: a supplement can be a small add-on for a man who is already sleeping, training and eating reasonably. It is not a fix for a problem that comes from somewhere else.

What Causes High Cortisol in Men?

The most common medical cause is long-term, high-dose use of glucocorticoid medicines, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). These are cortisol-like drugs prescribed for conditions such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

Cushing’s Syndrome and Other Medical Causes

When medicine is not the cause, NIDDK says pituitary tumors that make too much ACTH account for 8 out of 10 cases. The rest come from tumors of the adrenal gland itself or from tumors elsewhere, most often in the lungs. The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) calls Cushing’s syndrome rare and notes it is more common in women.

NIDDK says some people have high cortisol on and off without the long-term effects of Cushing’s syndrome, a condition it calls pseudo-Cushing’s that is sometimes found in people with depression or anxiety, heavy drinking, poorly controlled diabetes or obesity. NIDDK also says no single test is perfect.

Is Adrenal Fatigue Real?

It is not recognized as a medical condition. A 2016 systematic review of 58 studies concluded there is no substantiation that adrenal fatigue is an actual condition, and the review notes that no endocrinology society has recognized it. It adds that some doctors, healthcare providers and the general media have used the term.

When Should a Man See a Doctor About High Cortisol?

See a doctor if you have symptoms like those below, especially if you take steroid medicine. The NHS lists these symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome:

Extra fat on the neck, upper back, chest and belly, with thinner arms and legs
A red, round face
Easy bruising and stretch marks
Muscle weakness, especially in the upper arms and thighs
Low sex drive
Mood changes such as irritability, anxiety or depression

How Is High Cortisol Tested?

NIDDK says doctors usually run two tests because no single test is perfect. Options include a 24-hour urinary free cortisol test, a late-night salivary cortisol test and a low-dose dexamethasone suppression test. Dr. Katie Guttenberg of UTHealth Houston told PBS News that a one-off cortisol blood test will not give useful information for most people, and she is wary of people ordering cortisol tests without physician oversight.

Does Ashwagandha Lower Cortisol?

In stressed adults, usually yes, over about two months. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements describes a 2021 review of seven trials with 491 adults, all from India, who took ashwagandha or placebo for 6 to 8 weeks. Doses ran from 240 to 1,250 mg a day of extract. Stress, anxiety, sleeplessness and serum cortisol were lower on ashwagandha than on placebo, and in several studies the benefits looked larger at 500 to 600 mg a day.

The Trials Behind the Claims

A 2012 trial enrolled 64 adults with a history of chronic stress. They took 300 mg of a root extract twice a day for 60 days. Serum cortisol fell more than on placebo, stress scale scores improved, and side effects were mild and similar in both groups.

A 2019 trial gave 60 stressed but otherwise healthy adults 240 mg of an extract once a day or placebo for 60 days. The ashwagandha group had a larger drop in morning cortisol and a significant improvement on an anxiety rating scale, while a second rating scale came close but missed significance (P=0.096). The authors called for larger and more varied samples.

Two limits matter for you. Both trials enrolled adults reporting chronic or high stress, not men over 50 with diagnosed high cortisol, and the NIH review notes that most studies were fairly small and short.

Ashwagandha and Training

An 8-week trial gave 57 men aged 18 to 50 with little resistance training experience 300 mg of ashwagandha extract twice a day. They gained more bench press strength than placebo (46.0 kg versus 26.4 kg) and more leg extension strength (14.5 kg versus 9.8 kg). A 2026 meta-analysis of three such trials, 161 people in all, rated the certainty of the strength results as low. Those men were 50 or younger, so do not read this as proof for a 60-year-old.

Is Ashwagandha Safe for Men?

It appears well tolerated for up to about three months, but long-term safety is unknown, and there are documented cases of liver injury. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) calls liver injury rare but links a number of cases to ashwagandha supplements.

Liver Injury Reports

The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements describes five cases, three men and two women aged 21 to 62, who reportedly took supplements containing 450 to 1,350 mg of ashwagandha a day for one week to four months and had signs of liver injury such as jaundice, itching and nausea. They improved over time after stopping. The Office notes that product contents were not independently verified in every case and some were combination products. A 2023 case series from India identified 23 people with liver injury from ashwagandha products and analyzed the 8 who took single-ingredient products. Six of the eight were men, and cholestatic hepatitis was the most common presentation. Five of the eight had chronic liver disease, and three of those patients presented with acute-on-chronic liver failure and died.

Thyroid, Medication and Other Cautions

The Office of Dietary Supplements says ashwagandha might affect thyroid function and might interact with thyroid hormone medication, antidiabetes drugs, blood pressure drugs, immunosuppressants and sedatives. Some experts advise against it for men with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. Ask your doctor first if you have liver disease or take any of those drugs.

Does Phosphatidylserine Lower Cortisol?

It lowered the cortisol spike after moderate-intensity cycling in one small study, which is a narrower claim than lowering cortisol in general. In that 2008 crossover trial, 10 healthy men took 600 mg a day or placebo for 10 days, then cycled for 15 minutes at 65 to 85 percent of maximal oxygen uptake. Peak cortisol was about 39 percent lower and total cortisol exposure about 35 percent lower after phosphatidylserine.

Ten healthy volunteers is a tiny sample, and the test measured exercise stress, not resting cortisol or the cortisol of a man with a medical problem. It is a lead worth knowing about, not a recommendation.

What About Rhodiola and Other Adaptogens?

Rhodiola has less trial data than ashwagandha in one 2026 systematic review. That review of 24 randomized trials included 19 on ashwagandha and only 5 on rhodiola, in studies of 10 to 590 people. The reviewers listed small samples and short durations as ongoing limitations. A blend that lists many adaptogens in one capsule makes the picture murkier, since you cannot tell whether any single ingredient reaches the dose a trial used.

Does Magnesium Lower Cortisol?

No study cited on this page shows it does, but low intake is worth checking at your age. The recommended daily amount for men over 50 is 420 mg from food and supplements combined. The Office of Dietary Supplements notes that older adults eat less magnesium than younger adults, and absorption falls and urinary loss rises with age. The upper limit for magnesium from supplements alone is 350 mg a day for adult men, because high supplemental doses can cause diarrhea, nausea and abdominal cramping. Our magnesium for sleep after 50 guide covers forms and doses.

Which Lifestyle Changes Lower Cortisol?

Exercise has pooled trial evidence behind it, though not in men over 50. A 2022 systematic review of 10 intervention studies found that physical activity programs lowered cortisol (standardized mean difference -0.37), rated moderate-certainty evidence. The reviewers cautioned that the trials were predominantly in people with breast cancer, included few males and no older adults.

Sleep and Cortisol

Sleep loss and cortisol have a less clear-cut link than you might expect. A 2024 meta-analysis of 24 studies found no significant overall difference in cortisol after acute sleep deprivation, though blood-serum samples did show higher levels. That review covers acute sleep loss only. See our guide on exercise and sleep quality for men over 50. The endocrinologists in the PBS piece gave healthy people the same plain advice: eat well, sleep enough, move your body, or see a therapist.

Should You Try a Supplement for High Cortisol?

Only after the basics and a conversation with your doctor. If you decide to try one, ashwagandha is the one with pooled trial data on cortisol, taken at the doses used in trials for a limited window, with the liver and medication cautions above in mind. Our supplement stack for men over 50 page covers the wider supplement list, and the best supplements for men over 50 overview covers each one in more depth.

A Relaxation Option, Not a Cortisol Treatment

If poor sleep is the part you want help with, Dr. Jockers sells Sleep Deep, a capsule that its maker lists as containing magnesium, myo-inositol, taurine, GABA and L-theanine. The maker’s page says it can help promote calmness, relaxation and a well-balanced mood, and suggests taking it anytime during the day for calmness, or after dinner or before bed for restful sleep. The page lists a normal dose of 2 to 4 capsules, 1 to 2 times daily. The maker’s page also carries the standard notice that these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and that the product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

It is not a cortisol product, and nothing above shows it lowers cortisol. The amounts of each ingredient are on the Supplement Facts panel, so read that before comparing it with anything else. Talk to your doctor first if you take sedatives, blood pressure drugs or other medication.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best supplement for high cortisol in men?

No supplement is proven to treat high cortisol. Ashwagandha has randomized trials showing lower cortisol in stressed adults, and phosphatidylserine has one small study on exercise-related cortisol. Neither was tested in men over 50 with a diagnosed cortisol problem.

How long do cortisol supplements take to work?

The ashwagandha trials described above ran 6 to 8 weeks, or 60 days in the two single trials. Phosphatidylserine was tested over 10 days. Give any product the length of the trial behind it before judging it, and contact your doctor if you notice jaundice, itching or nausea.

What are the symptoms of high cortisol in men?

Cushing’s syndrome can cause extra fat on the neck, upper back, chest and belly with thin arms and legs, a red round face, easy bruising, stretch marks, weak upper arms and thighs, low sex drive and mood changes. These signs overlap with other conditions, so a doctor needs to test rather than guess.

Can a supplement treat Cushing’s syndrome?

No. Cushing’s syndrome is a medical condition caused by long-term steroid medicine or by tumors, and it needs diagnosis and treatment from a physician. Dr. Roberto Salvatori of Johns Hopkins told PBS News that medication for it must be dosed carefully because overcorrection can push cortisol too low.

Is it safe to take ashwagandha every day?

The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements says it appears well tolerated for up to about three months of use. Long-term safety is not known, and liver injury has been reported. Men with liver disease, thyroid conditions or hormone-sensitive prostate cancer should not take it without medical advice.

Medical disclaimer: This article is general information for men over 50, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a liver, thyroid or hormone-related condition.

Sources

High Cortisol Supplements for Men Over 50: What the Evidence Says