Hormones

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Progesterone • Involved in reproduction • Nervous system health, and mood (feel-good 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

6. Progesterone imbalances • Low levels: • Menopausal side effects • Hot flashes • Sleep disturbances • Irritability • In pregnancy can caused miscarriages • High levels: • Anti-estrogen

7. Estradiol • Most active of the estrogens • Functions: • 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Estrogen/Progesterone metabolism • Synthesized in the ovaries from cholesterol via 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

11. Androgens (testosterone, DHEA, DHT) • Androgens help with the regeneration of skin, 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Liver function in hormone metabolism • Estrogenic hormones are detoxified and recycled 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.

15. 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

16. 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.

17. 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

18. Nutritional modulation of estrogen • Dietary fiber and lignins • Promotes proper excretion and reduced reabsorption • Reduces levels of free estradiol • Complex carbohydrates • Attenuates the glycemic and insulin index • Essential Fatty Acids • Decreases in c-16 Hydroxylation of estradiol • Protein • Inadequate protein may lead to decrease cytochrome P450 activity affecting hepatic detoxification pathways • Cruciferous vegetables • Indole-3-carbinol, isoflavones (soy and kudzu) • Folate, B2, B6, and B12 • Magnesium • Probiotics • Calcium D-glucarate

19. Detoxification of Xenoestrogens • Liver detoxification • 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