Testosterone, which is abundantly produced during puberty, is responsible for the development of secondary sexual characteristics and has profound effects throughout the body. Testosterone receptors are found in virtually all body tissues, so levels of testosterone affect the function of most organ systems. For example, testosterone causes growth of facial and body hair in skin cells, increased fiber size and strength in muscle cells, and maturation of the external genitalia. The effects of testosterone on the central nervous system are also well-known (Okun MS et al 2004). Testosterone governs such behaviors as aggression, risk taking, and territoriality. It is now recognized as an important factor in mitigating depression (King JA et al 2005).
As with all sex hormones, testosterone is part of a cascade that begins with cholesterol, the building block for hormones. Pregnenolone, the “master hormone,” is produced directly from cholesterol. In turn, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA; a precursor to testosterone), testosterone (and its metabolites), and estrogen (and its metabolites) are produced from pregnenolone. Both testosterone and estrogen are produced by enzymatic reactions from DHEA. This ubiquitous molecule is the steroid found in highest quantities in humans. Changes in the supply of DHEA (and/or changes in the levels of the enzymes that convert DHEA to the sex hormones) can have powerful effects on sex hormone–dependent systems.
As men age, a number of changes occur that reduce the testosterone level available to the body and that alter the ratio between testosterone and the chief female hormone, estrogen. This condition is now referred to as partial androgen deficiency of aging men (Harman SM 2005).
One of the most important factors that affect testosterone levels of aging men is an enzyme called aromatase, which is found in fat tissue. This enzyme is responsible for converting testosterone into estrogen, thus altering the ratio of estrogen to testosterone (Steiner MS et al 2003). Men who have excessive body fat, especially abdominal fat, are likely to have increased estrogen levels caused by aromatase activity and a dramatically increased estrogen level compared to testosterone. An increased estrogen level has been linked, in turn, to a host of disorders, including decreased insulin sensitivity and blood glucose problems. Some studies suggest that there is an association between a low testosterone level, insulin resistance, an elevated estrogen level, and increased body fat in aging men (Phillips GB 1993).
This relationship between low testosterone and obesity has been described as the hypogonadal/obesity cycle. In this cycle, a low testosterone level leads to an increase in abdominal fat, which leads to increased aromatase activity, which leads to further conversion of testosterone to estradiol, which further reduces testosterone and increases the tendency toward abdominal fat (Cohen PG 1999).
The effect of sex hormones on tissues is also affected by the level of sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG). Sex hormones circulate in the bloodstream in very small quantities as free molecules. The bulk of sex hormones are bound to SHBG, which is a specialized carrier protein (Nankin HR et al 1986). Hormones bound to carrier molecules are inactive, so the amount of SHBG has an important impact on the degree to which tissues respond to sex hormone levels (Misao R et al 1999; Zmuda JM et al 1993; Dambe JE et al 1983; Van Look PF et al 1981). Nutritional status and the levels of other hormones are among the factors that determine levels of SHBG.
Aging men who have an androgen deficiency experience both an increase in aromatase activity and an elevation in SHBG production. The net result is to increase the ratio of estrogen to testosterone and lower the total testosterone level (Killinger DW et al 1987; Kley HK et al 1980a,b). Finally, it is important that aging men also strive for optimal liver function. The liver is responsible for removing excess estrogen and SHBG, so any compromise in liver function (such as that caused by heavy alcohol consumption, for example) can exacerbate hormonal imbalances.
Uncategorized | 14.07.2008 19:07 | Comments Off
How to Improve Cell Energy and Antioxidant Activity.
Anti Oxidants perform a vital function of our body. Although these anti oxidants are present in your body cells, you may still need them from the artificial resources.
Foods rich in nucleic acids (RNA) such as sardines, salmon, tuna, shell fish, lentils, and beans help improve cell energy through a “salvage pathway” (see Life Extension Magazine, Aug. 1997, 5-8).
Foods rich in antioxidants and other phytochemicals such as fruits, vegetables, and green tea help protect against oxidative damage and free radical attack of all body cells including the skin.
There are two or three major vitamin groups such as vitamin A, C and E that contain anti oxidants in plenty. They are also found abundantly in various natural products such as green vegetables and fruits. The oral intake of supplements, particularly the antioxidants, vitamins E and C and the mineral selenium, and vitamin A, the “skin vitamin,”–together with supplements of RNA and B vitamins (for coenzymes) and the minerals zinc, copper, and manganese, provide even more intensive protection against damaging free radicals. The increased cellular energy helps the skin repair, renew, and revitalize itself.
Keeping the Skin Well Oiled
Aging causes a progressive decline in our ability to internally synthesize the essential fatty acids (EFAs) required by the skin to maintain a youthful, moist appearance. The most important oils to supplement are the omega-3s that can make the skin smoother, softer, and look more radiant. When skin is properly nourished, it shows less of the effects of aging. The oral ingestion of fish, flax, or perilla oil provides abundant quantities of the omega-3 fatty acids that are so beneficial to the health and appearance of the skin. These natural anti oxidants must not be taken in unregulated amount. Instead of taking additional natural supplements for antioxidants you should be contended with anti oxidants that you consume along with your natural diet.
Uncategorized | 14.07.2008 19:04 | Comments Off
My baby sister was taller than me. Kids at school picked on me and called me names - like shorty, shrimp and pee wee. It hurt my feelings and I know my mom and dad felt bad for me. My doctor sent us to a specialist to see why I was not growing and why I was so much smaller than my friends in school. t is true that growth hormone levels drop as a person ages, but there is no evidence whatever that lack of growth hormone causes aging or that taking growth hormone slows aging, and the evidence that growth hormone grows muscle and gets rid of fat is highly controversial. The specialist said I would have to take a test to check my growth hormone. My mom didn’t know what growth hormone was. The specialist took a long time to explain it to her.
The day for the test came. I wasn’t scared but I think my mom was. They did have to put an IV in my arm. It only pinched for a few seconds. The test took quite a few hours and I fell asleep for awhile. Before I knew it the test was over. But the specialist told my mom it would be 2 to 3 weeks before we would know how the test came out. Products that are sold as “growth hormone releasers” are just amino acids, the building blocks of protein, that are the same as the protein you get in your food. Anything that you eat can be called a growth hormone releaser because all foods raise blood levels of growth hormone temporarily. When you eat protein, blood levels of growth hormone rise even higher.
The specialist called about 2 weeks later and told my mom to come back with me so they can tell us about the test results. They told us that I had human growth hormone deficiency and would need to take growth hormone shots every day for me to grow. Thousands of athletes in many sports spend millions of dollars on growth hormone and growth hormone promoters in the hope that it will help them grow larger muscles, become stronger and therefore be better athletes. Exercise can also be called a growth hormone releaser because every time that you exercise, blood levels of growth hormone rise. Exercise raises growth hormone levels more than and longer than eating does.
I don’t think she liked it when they told her that the parents give the shots. I wasn’t scared so much. They said the shots would help me grow, and I wanted to grow, but my mom looked scared. I told her not to worry, it would be okay, but she even cried!
We went back to the specialist a couple of weeks later to get my growth hormone and for them to teach my mom how to give the shots. I was a little scared even though they told me it was only a pinch. They were right - it was only a pinch! I think it hurt my mom because she thought I was scared. We went home ready to take my growth hormone shots. It took my mom awhile to get used to giving me the shots. Funny, she didn’t seem scared any more after our first visit back to the specialist to find out I had grown almost 1 full inch. I guess this growth hormone really works!
Not too long after I started growing we had to get new shoes. My mom said it was the first time my feet grew in 2 years. Then my pants were above my ankles, so off to buy new pants too! Before growth hormone there were times I was sad, but after a few years of the shots I was catching up to other kids my age. They didn’t call me names anymore and they let me play in all the games. Growth hormone is a protein that is destroyed in the stomach, so it can only be given by injection, and growth hormone injections can only be given legally by prescription, so most of the advertised products are “growth hormone releasers” which are taken by mouth, not by injection.
There were times I didn’t want to take my shots. Well, my mom wouldn’t listen. She had to make me understand that when I stopped taking the growth hormone shots I would also stop growing again. I guess she was right, so I didn’t stop the shots. The growth hormone releaser products are nothing but ordinary protein from soybeans, tuna or milk.
I’m almost grown now. I’m in the normal range on a growth chart. Growth hormone is like a miracle drug to me. Back when I was six years old the specialist told my mom I was never going to be 4 feet tall without growth hormone shots. In fact, when you reach middle age, your growth hormone levels are only a minute fraction of what it was when you were a teenager. Unfortunately, the amount of this hormone produced by the body is dependent on the genes inherited from your parents. Today I’m 19 inches taller than I would have ever been, thanks to growth hormone! Was the testing, all the doctor visits, and all the shots worth it? You bet it was!!
Uncategorized | 14.07.2008 19:02 | Comments Off