HormonesHormones

Are one of the many ways our body’s cells Are one of the many ways our body’s cells “talk” to each other.“talk” to each other.

Are produced by specialized glands (like ovaries, Are produced by specialized glands (like ovaries, testes, thyroid and adrenals)testes, thyroid and adrenals)

Act like messengers to distant parts of the bodyAct like messengers to distant parts of the body

NeurotransmittersNeurotransmitters

• N.T. also act as messengers in the bodyN.T. also act as messengers in the body

• N.T. are chemicals that relay signals N.T. are chemicals that relay signals between nerve cells, or neurons.between nerve cells, or neurons.

• Present throughout the body and are Present throughout the body and are required for proper brain and body required for proper brain and body function, including hormone release.function, including hormone release.

• N.T. imbalance = hormonal imbalanceN.T. imbalance = hormonal imbalance

Estrogens (estradiol, estrone, Estrogens (estradiol, estrone, estriol)estriol)

– Are hormones of growth and sexual Are hormones of growth and sexual development.development.

– Develops and maintain female Develops and maintain female reproductive reproductive

– Controls fluids and electrolyte balance.Controls fluids and electrolyte balance.– Increases protein anabolism.Increases protein anabolism.– Keeps healthy breast tissue and skinKeeps healthy breast tissue and skin

Estrogen ImbalancesEstrogen Imbalances

• Women:Women:– High levels cause:High levels cause:

•Weight gain, breast tenderness, heavy Weight gain, breast tenderness, heavy periods, increase risk of cancersperiods, increase risk of cancers

– Low estrogen levels Cause:Low estrogen levels Cause:•Hot flashes, vaginal dryness and bone lossHot flashes, vaginal dryness and bone loss

• Men:Men:– High levels cause:High levels cause:

•Prostate problems and reduced testosteroneProstate problems and reduced testosterone

ProgesteroneProgesterone

• Involved in reproductionInvolved in reproduction• Nervous system health, and mood (feel-Nervous system health, and mood (feel-

good hormonegood hormone• Optimal levels balance and support other Optimal levels balance and support other

sex hormones (especially estrogen)sex hormones (especially estrogen)• Activates gaba receptors-reducing N.t. Activates gaba receptors-reducing N.t.

activity important for people with pain, activity important for people with pain, PMS, or compulsive disordersPMS, or compulsive disorders

• Prepares uterus for implantationPrepares uterus for implantation• Prepares mammary glands for lactationPrepares mammary glands for lactation

Progesterone imbalancesProgesterone imbalances

• Low levels:Low levels:– Menopausal side effectsMenopausal side effects– Hot flashesHot flashes– Sleep disturbancesSleep disturbances– IrritabilityIrritability– In pregnancy can caused miscarriagesIn pregnancy can caused miscarriages

• High levels:High levels:– Anti-estrogenAnti-estrogen

EstradiolEstradiol

• Most active of the estrogensMost active of the estrogens

• Functions:Functions:– Slows the breakdown of boneSlows the breakdown of bone– Falls dramatically in menopauseFalls dramatically in menopause– Regenerates and preserves nerve cells in the brain.Regenerates and preserves nerve cells in the brain.– Low levels linked to Alzheimer’sLow levels linked to Alzheimer’s

• Deficiency: cognitive/affective disordersDeficiency: cognitive/affective disorders– Mood disordersMood disorders– Parkinson’sParkinson’s– SchizophreniaSchizophrenia

EstriolEstriol

• Weakest of estrogens, produced in Weakest of estrogens, produced in ovariesovaries

• Production increases in pregnancyProduction increases in pregnancy

• Good indicator of fetal well-being and Good indicator of fetal well-being and to predict pre-term laborto predict pre-term labor

• Anti-breast cancer effectsAnti-breast cancer effects

Neurotransmitters and Neurotransmitters and hormoneshormones

• N.T. can increase production of N.T. can increase production of hormoneshormones

• Seratonin increases output of hormones Seratonin increases output of hormones from the anterior pituitaryfrom the anterior pituitary– Seratonin increases prolactin levels---Seratonin increases prolactin levels---

decreasing testosterone decreasing testosterone – Increases LH----increases testosterone in Increases LH----increases testosterone in

men, and estradiol in womenmen, and estradiol in women– Increases (ACTH)---stimulates adrenals to Increases (ACTH)---stimulates adrenals to

increase cortisol levelsincrease cortisol levels

Estrogen/Progesterone Estrogen/Progesterone metabolismmetabolism• Synthesized in the ovaries from cholesterol via Synthesized in the ovaries from cholesterol via

pregnenolonepregnenolone• Pregnenolone is precursor to DHEA and progesteronePregnenolone is precursor to DHEA and progesterone• Progesterone converts to cortisol in the adrenal Progesterone converts to cortisol in the adrenal

glandsglands• Adrenal also convert androstenedione to testosterone Adrenal also convert androstenedione to testosterone

or to estroneor to estrone• Testosterone is subsequently converted to estradiol Testosterone is subsequently converted to estradiol

via aromatase enzymevia aromatase enzyme• Pregnenolone is significant in these pathways in that Pregnenolone is significant in these pathways in that

is the precursor to progesterone, estrogens and is the precursor to progesterone, estrogens and cortisolcortisol

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

skin, bones, and musclesskin, bones, and muscles• Low DHEA levels:Low DHEA levels:

• Fatigue, depressed, reduced mental functionFatigue, depressed, reduced mental function

• DHT (dihydrotestosteroneDHT (dihydrotestosterone– Maintains lean muscle mass, and Maintains lean muscle mass, and

cardiovascular health in men and womencardiovascular health in men and women• Low DHT levels:Low DHT levels:

– Linked to low libidoLinked to low libido– Increase fat to lean muscle ratioIncrease fat to lean muscle ratio– Coronary heart problemsCoronary heart problems

Symptoms of estrogen Symptoms of estrogen dominancedominance

• Decreased libidoDecreased libido

• Cervical dysplasiaCervical dysplasia

• Depression, anxiety or agitationDepression, anxiety or agitation

• Risk of endometrial cancerRisk of endometrial cancer

• Fat gain (especially around abdomen)Fat gain (especially around abdomen)

• Fibrocystic breast and uterine fibroidsFibrocystic breast and uterine fibroids

• Thyroid dysfunctionThyroid dysfunction

Androgen disorders in Androgen disorders in womenwomen• Very common female disorderVery common female disorder• Androgens from Greek word andros Androgens from Greek word andros

meaning masculine.meaning masculine.• Symptoms appear gradually:Symptoms appear gradually:

– Irregular periodsIrregular periods– InfertilityInfertility– Weight gain more apple shapeWeight gain more apple shape– Acne, hair loss and facial or chest hairAcne, hair loss and facial or chest hair

Liver function in hormone Liver function in hormone metabolismmetabolism

• Estrogenic hormones are detoxified and Estrogenic hormones are detoxified and recycled in the liverrecycled in the liver

• Via Phase I cytochrome p450 Via Phase I cytochrome p450 hydroxylation pathwayhydroxylation pathway

• Fallowed by phase II glucorination, Fallowed by phase II glucorination, sulfation and methylationsulfation and methylation

• Prolonged exposure of target tissue is a Prolonged exposure of target tissue is a recognized risk factor of estrogen recognized risk factor of estrogen associated cancers.associated cancers.

Causes of menopausal Causes of menopausal symptomssymptoms• Hormonal fluctuationsHormonal fluctuations

– Progesterone and estrogen levels decreasingProgesterone and estrogen levels decreasing• StressStress

– Negatively affects adrenal glandsNegatively affects adrenal glands• HypoglycemiaHypoglycemia

– Low blood sugar levels will enhance menopausal Low blood sugar levels will enhance menopausal symptomssymptoms

• Poor diet and lack of exercisePoor diet and lack of exercise– Women who exercise regularly 4-5 times per week, were Women who exercise regularly 4-5 times per week, were

shown to have no signs of hot flashes.shown to have no signs of hot flashes.• HypothyroidismHypothyroidism• Liver dysfunction and biliary stasisLiver dysfunction and biliary stasis

– Inability to breakdown and detoxify estrogensInability to breakdown and detoxify estrogens

Environmental estrogensEnvironmental estrogens

• Chemicals that behave like human Chemicals that behave like human estrogensestrogens– Scientific studies linked wild life reproductive Scientific studies linked wild life reproductive

disorders to chemicals from municipal waste, disorders to chemicals from municipal waste, pesticides, which masquerade as hormones.pesticides, which masquerade as hormones.

– The use of plastics in food supplyThe use of plastics in food supply– Increase hormonal noise in our systems, causes Increase hormonal noise in our systems, causes

our detoxification pathways to become jammed, our detoxification pathways to become jammed, creating physiological dysfunctioncreating physiological dysfunction

– We need adequate detoxification to eliminate We need adequate detoxification to eliminate both exogenous and xenoestrogens in a regular both exogenous and xenoestrogens in a regular basis to maintain health and balance.basis to maintain health and balance.

DHEA and CortisolDHEA and Cortisol

• Regulates metabolism and body Regulates metabolism and body weightweight

• Part of stress response systemPart of stress response system

• Influence cognitive functionInfluence cognitive function

• Affects neurotransmitter actionAffects neurotransmitter action– Norepinephrine, gaba and epinephrineNorepinephrine, gaba and epinephrine

• Cortisol potentiates gaba receptorsCortisol potentiates gaba receptors– Reducing pain, anxiety and depressionReducing pain, anxiety and depression

Nutritional modulation of Nutritional modulation of estrogen estrogen • Dietary fiber and ligninsDietary fiber and lignins

– Promotes proper excretion and reduced reabsorptionPromotes proper excretion and reduced reabsorption– Reduces levels of free estradiolReduces levels of free estradiol

• Complex carbohydratesComplex carbohydrates– Attenuates the glycemic and insulin indexAttenuates the glycemic and insulin index

• Essential Fatty AcidsEssential Fatty Acids– Decreases in c-16 Hydroxylation of estradiol Decreases in c-16 Hydroxylation of estradiol

• ProteinProtein– Inadequate protein may lead to decrease cytochrome P450 activity affecting Inadequate protein may lead to decrease cytochrome P450 activity affecting

hepatic detoxification pathwayshepatic detoxification pathways• Cruciferous vegetablesCruciferous vegetables

– Indole-3-carbinol, isoflavones (soy and kudzu)Indole-3-carbinol, isoflavones (soy and kudzu)• Folate, B2, B6, and B12Folate, B2, B6, and B12• MagnesiumMagnesium• ProbioticsProbiotics• Calcium D-glucarateCalcium D-glucarate

Detoxification of Detoxification of XenoestrogensXenoestrogens• Liver detoxification Liver detoxification

– Using specific nutrients to help Phase I & IIUsing specific nutrients to help Phase I & II– Making sure you have good glutathione reserves, proper Making sure you have good glutathione reserves, proper

absorption of B-complex to help this pathways.absorption of B-complex to help this pathways.• IsoflovonoidsIsoflovonoids• Healthy intestinal floraHealthy intestinal flora• Remove dietary antigens (allergens)Remove dietary antigens (allergens)• Dietary enzymes and HCL to improve digestionDietary enzymes and HCL to improve digestion• Dietary supplements to regenerate GI trackDietary supplements to regenerate GI track

– Pantothenic acid, probiotics, minerals (zinc), L-glutamine, or L-Pantothenic acid, probiotics, minerals (zinc), L-glutamine, or L-carnitinecarnitine

• Dietary lignans from flax seeds to lower bioavailable levels Dietary lignans from flax seeds to lower bioavailable levels of estrogenof estrogen