Download Hormones

Hormones
Are one of the many ways our body’s cells “talk” to
each other.
Are produced by specialized glands (like ovaries,
testes, thyroid and adrenals)
Act like messengers to distant parts of the body
Neurotransmitters
• N.T. also act as messengers in the body
• N.T. are chemicals that relay signals
between nerve cells, or neurons.
• Present throughout the body and are
required for proper brain and body
function, including hormone release.
• N.T. imbalance = hormonal imbalance
Estrogens (estradiol, estrone,
estriol)
– Are hormones of growth and sexual
development.
– Develops and maintain female reproductive
– Controls fluids and electrolyte balance.
– Increases protein anabolism.
– Keeps healthy breast tissue and skin
Estrogen Imbalances
• Women:
– High levels cause:
• Weight gain, breast tenderness, heavy periods,
increase risk of cancers
– Low estrogen levels Cause:
• Hot flashes, vaginal dryness and bone loss
• Men:
– High levels cause:
• Prostate problems and reduced testosterone
Progesterone
• Involved in reproduction
• Nervous system health, and mood (feel-good
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hormone
Optimal levels balance and support other sex
hormones (especially estrogen)
Activates gaba receptors-reducing N.t. activity
important for people with pain, PMS, or
compulsive disorders
Prepares uterus for implantation
Prepares mammary glands for lactation
Progesterone imbalances
• Low levels:
– Menopausal side effects
– Hot flashes
– Sleep disturbances
– Irritability
– In pregnancy can caused miscarriages
• High levels:
– Anti-estrogen
Estradiol
• Most active of the estrogens
• Functions:
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Slows the breakdown of bone
Falls dramatically in menopause
Regenerates and preserves nerve cells in the brain.
Low levels linked to Alzheimer’s
• Deficiency: cognitive/affective disorders
– Mood disorders
– Parkinson’s
– Schizophrenia
Estriol
• Weakest of estrogens, produced in ovaries
• Production increases in pregnancy
• Good indicator of fetal well-being and to
predict pre-term labor
• Anti-breast cancer effects
Neurotransmitters and hormones
• N.T. can increase production of hormones
• Seratonin increases output of hormones
from the anterior pituitary
– Seratonin increases prolactin levels--decreasing testosterone
– Increases LH----increases testosterone in
men, and estradiol in women
– Increases (ACTH)---stimulates adrenals to
increase cortisol levels
Estrogen/Progesterone metabolism
• Synthesized in the ovaries from cholesterol via
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pregnenolone
Pregnenolone is precursor to DHEA and progesterone
Progesterone converts to cortisol in the adrenal glands
Adrenal also convert androstenedione to testosterone or
to estrone
Testosterone is subsequently converted to estradiol via
aromatase enzyme
Pregnenolone is significant in these pathways in that is
the precursor to progesterone, estrogens and cortisol
Androgens (testosterone, DHEA,
DHT)
• Androgens help with the regeneration of skin,
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bones, and muscles
Low DHEA levels:
• Fatigue, depressed, reduced mental function
• DHT (dihydrotestosterone
– Maintains lean muscle mass, and cardiovascular
health in men and women
• Low DHT levels:
– Linked to low libido
– Increase fat to lean muscle ratio
– Coronary heart problems
Symptoms of estrogen dominance
• Decreased libido
• Cervical dysplasia
• Depression, anxiety or agitation
• Risk of endometrial cancer
• Fat gain (especially around abdomen)
• Fibrocystic breast and uterine fibroids
• Thyroid dysfunction
Androgen disorders in women
• Very common female disorder
• Androgens from Greek word andros
meaning masculine.
• Symptoms appear gradually:
– Irregular periods
– Infertility
– Weight gain more apple shape
– Acne, hair loss and facial or chest hair
Liver function in hormone
metabolism
• Estrogenic hormones are detoxified and recycled
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in the liver
Via Phase I cytochrome p450 hydroxylation
pathway
Fallowed by phase II glucorination, sulfation and
methylation
Prolonged exposure of target tissue is a
recognized risk factor of estrogen associated
cancers.
Causes of menopausal symptoms
• Hormonal fluctuations
– Progesterone and estrogen levels decreasing
• Stress
– Negatively affects adrenal glands
• Hypoglycemia
– Low blood sugar levels will enhance menopausal symptoms
• Poor diet and lack of exercise
– Women who exercise regularly 4-5 times per week, were shown
to have no signs of hot flashes.
• Hypothyroidism
• Liver dysfunction and biliary stasis
– Inability to breakdown and detoxify estrogens
Environmental estrogens
• Chemicals that behave like human estrogens
– Scientific studies linked wild life reproductive
disorders to chemicals from municipal waste,
pesticides, which masquerade as hormones.
– The use of plastics in food supply
– Increase hormonal noise in our systems, causes our
detoxification pathways to become jammed, creating
physiological dysfunction
– We need adequate detoxification to eliminate both
exogenous and xenoestrogens in a regular basis to
maintain health and balance.
DHEA and Cortisol
• Regulates metabolism and body weight
• Part of stress response system
• Influence cognitive function
• Affects neurotransmitter action
– Norepinephrine, gaba and epinephrine
• Cortisol potentiates gaba receptors
– Reducing pain, anxiety and depression
Nutritional modulation of estrogen
• Dietary fiber and lignins
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Promotes proper excretion and reduced reabsorption
Reduces levels of free estradiol
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Attenuates the glycemic and insulin index
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Decreases in c-16 Hydroxylation of estradiol
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Inadequate protein may lead to decrease cytochrome P450 activity affecting hepatic
detoxification pathways
• Complex carbohydrates
• Essential Fatty Acids
• Protein
• Cruciferous vegetables
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Indole-3-carbinol, isoflavones (soy and kudzu)
Folate, B2, B6, and B12
Magnesium
Probiotics
Calcium D-glucarate
Detoxification of Xenoestrogens
• Liver detoxification
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– Using specific nutrients to help Phase I & II
– Making sure you have good glutathione reserves, proper absorption of
B-complex to help this pathways.
Isoflovonoids
Healthy intestinal flora
Remove dietary antigens (allergens)
Dietary enzymes and HCL to improve digestion
Dietary supplements to regenerate GI track
– Pantothenic acid, probiotics, minerals (zinc), L-glutamine, or L-carnitine
• Dietary lignans from flax seeds to lower bioavailable levels of
estrogen