Hormones

The following links lead to chapters that deal with details about the various hormone subtopics.

Hormonal Navigation Table:

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General hormone actions: Hormone Introduction , Cyclic AMP , Some hormones and their actions , Syndrome of insulin resistance , Summary regarding hormones

Pituitary disorders: Introduction , Anterior lobe pituitary disorders , Effect of pituitary hormones , Pituitary apoplexy(pituitary gland stroke) , Posterior pituitary disease , Sheehan syndrome ,

Thyroid problems: Introduction , Hyperthyroidism (thyrotoxicosis) , Hypothyroidism (myxedema) , Subclinical hypothyroidism , Thyroiditis (Hashimoto's)

Hormone deficiency of testicles and ovaries (hypogonadism): Introduction to hypogonadism , Diagnostic tests for sex hormone deficiency , Signs and symptoms of hypogonadism , Treatment of hypogonadism

Male and Female Menopause: Introduction/meno/andropause , Menopause change of life in women , Menopause Weight Gain , Andropause (=male menopause) , Antiaging Treatment with Bioidentical Hormones

Diabetes mellitus and insipidus: Diabetes mellitus (what's normally known as "diabetes") , Diabetes insipidus

Adreneal gland disorders: Adrenal gland disorders

Growth hormone (GH) problems: Introduction to GH , GH deficiency (= dwarfism) , GH surplus (= acromegaly)

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Adrenal gland hormones and diseases:

Adrenal Gland Disorders (click on link):

Overproduction of ...cortisol : Cushing's syndrome , ...aldosterone : Conn's syndrome , ...epinephrine : Pheochromocytoma

Underproduction: Adrenal Fatigue , Addison's disease (rarely with large tumor mass in adrenal glands)

Introduction:

The adrenal glands produce three major hormones. In the outer regions (the cortex) they produce the hormones cortisol and aldosterone as shown on this link. In the central part of the adrenal glands the catecholamines are produced. Catecholamines are a mix of epinephrine (also known under the name "adrenaline") and norepinephrine. The most important of these catecholamines in the adrenal glands is epinephrine. The glucocorticoids are produced in the zona fasciculata of the adrenal gland (about 10 to 20 mg per day, mainly cortisol) under the contorl of ACTH. Aldosterone is produced by the zona glomerulosa at a much lower rate of 100 to 150 micro-grams/day. Angiotensin II is the prinicpal control for aldosterone. DHEA is is the main adrenal androgen produced in the zona reticularis and is secreted at a rte of more than 20 mg per day (Ref. 16). DHEA is sulfated in the zona reticularis by the enzyme DHEA sulfotransferase and stored as DHEAS.

The above table summarizes the various common disorders associated with over- and underproduction of the adrenal gland hormones. This will be explained in more detail under the links of the table above. The most common condition that affects people under chronic stress is adrenal fatigue (Ref. 18).

There are circadian rhythms of hormone production throughout the day. Hormones are metabolized out of precursor hormonal compounds and can be converted into other hormones. For instance, DHEA can be converted into estrogens (estradiol, estrone and estriol) and into testosterone (Ref. 17).

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Hormones

Adrenal Gland Disorders

Summary Regarding Hormones

Hormone abnormalities are common. In this chapter I have shown the complexity of some of these abnormalities. I also have described that with some attention to proper exercise and balanced nutrition many hormone deficiency syndromes can be prevented. However, as people age there will be a significant number who require supplementation with bio-identical hormones (particularly for steroid hormones by applying appropriate creams to the skin).

With obesity running as high as 35% in the general population many, if not all of these people have the syndrome of insulin resistance, which can be effectively treated by limiting the amount of calories, carbohydrates and starch that are consumed without hunger pains by following a zone type eating plan (Ref. 12). This would normalize the elevated insulin level, remove the block at the secondary hormone messenger level, cyclic AMP, and free the regular hormone receptors to work normally again. In this way the thyroid ( for energy), the adrenal glands (for coping with stress) and the sex hormones (for a normal sex life) are given a chance to function normally again. Other problems such as depression will likely also decrease or disappear.

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Hormones

Disclaimer

This outline is only a teaching aid to patients and should stimulate you to ask the right questions when seeing your doctor. However, the responsibility of treatment stays in the hands of your doctor and you.

References

1. B. Sears: "The age-free zone". Regan Books, Harper Collins, 2000.

2. R.A. Vogel: Clin Cardiol 20(1997): 426-432.

3. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 8: Thyroid disorders.

4. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 7:Pituitary disorders.

5. J Levron et al.: Fertil Steril 2000 Nov;74(5):925-929.

6. AJ Patwardhan et. al.: Neurology 2000 Jun 27;54(12):2218-2223.

7. ME Flett et al.: Br J Surg 1999 Oct;86(10):1280-1283.

8. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 261: Congenital anomalies.

9. AC Hackney : Curr Pharm Des 2001 Mar;7(4):261-273.

10. JA Tash et al. : Urology 2000 Oct 1;56(4):669.

11. D Prandstraller et al.: Pediatr Cardiol 1999 Mar-Apr;20(2):108-112.

12. B. Sears: "Zone perfect meals in minutes". Regan Books, Harper Collins, 1997.

13. J Bain: Can Fam Physician 2001 Jan;47:91-97.

17. George Gillson, MD, PhD and Tracy Marsden, BScPharm: "You've hit menopause, now what?" (3 simple

steps to restoring hormone balance); Rocky Mountain Analytical Corp., 2nd edition, 2004, Canada

18. James L. Wilson, ND, DC, PhD: "Adrenal Fatigue, the 21sty Century Stress Syndrome - what is it and how you can recover";

Second printing 2002, by Smart Publications.com

Last Modified: July 30, 2012