《Endocrinology》In the process of aging, how will the hormones in the body change?

✨Original source 🔜 https://www.yehclinic.com/hormone-change-while-aging/

The brain dominates some of the mechanisms of aging, one of which is hormonal fluctuations. There are four hormones that play an important role in the aging process, namely growth hormone (hGH, human growth hormone), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH, follicle-stimulating hormone), luteinizing hormone (LH, luteinizing hormone) hormone) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH, Adrenocorticotropic hormone); these four hormones are mainly secreted by the pituitary gland in the brain.

In the face of aging, you must first understand the changes in your body during the aging process!

Growth hormone arrest Somatopause

During aging, growth hormone (hGH, human growth hormone) secreted by the pituitary gland decreases, resulting in a decrease in the production of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1, Insulin-like growth factor 1) by the liver.

Lack of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 can lead to " obesity, decreased muscle and bone mass, decreased exercise tolerance, low mood, and easy fatigue ."

At present, there is not enough research evidence to strongly support that the elderly can achieve anti-aging effects, prolong life or restore vitality by supplementing growth hormone.

Female MenopauseMenopause

Before women enter menopause, with age, the secretion of follicular maturation hormone and luteinizing hormone will decrease year by year, and the estrogen (Estradiol) secreted from the ovary will decrease accordingly.

Once entering female menopause, due to the negative feedback mechanism, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone will increase instead. And if estrogen is too low, in addition to the symptoms of menopause, bone loss will also accelerate, so be careful!

✨Extended reading: 👴The natural enemy of the elderly🔜 Osteoporosis & Fractures

✨Extended reading: 🚺The Female Athlete Triad: Insufficient energy intake, abnormal menstruation, low bone density

Male Menopause Andropause

Compared with women, the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis of men changes more slowly during aging. In men, when follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone decrease, testosterone secretion from the testes decreases.

Generally speaking, after men are over 40 years old, testosterone levels and sperm production begin to decline! Testosterone concentration is too low, may cause " emotional instability, sexual dysfunction, obesity, physical decline, osteoporosis " and so on.

✨Extended reading: "Obesity" Healthy Weight Loss 211 Diet Principles

✨Extended reading: "Obesity" weight loss drug Lorcaserin (Pelitetin, Belviq®) complete guide📖

✨Extended reading: 💉 Use testosterone to increase physical fitness! The price is... ?

Adrenopause Adrenopause

The adrenal glands use cholesterol (Cholesterol) as a raw material to produce DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone); DHEA can be further converted into testosterone and estrogen by a variety of enzymes.

During the aging process, once the adrenal glands are in a state of stagnation, the production of dehydrocorticosterone will decline, and symptoms similar to menopause will also appear. However, the concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisone did not change much.

✨Extended reading: "Endocrine" The day and night fluctuations of hormones in the body

Summarize

During the aging process, considerable physical and psychological changes will occur, and the fluctuation of hormones must not be ignored. Whether it is necessary to supplement hormones, the doctor must evaluate the "clinical symptoms and test report" before further deciding on the direction of treatment.

"Learn to treat aging as a friend" is a life-long compulsory course. Many people give up learning and let the teacher "Time" continue to carry out corporal punishment; this course is actually not difficult, as long as you are willing to step into the classroom, everything will be completely different!

Author: Dr. Ye Junju ( Metabolism Specialist , Lecturer of American Sports Medicine Association , Medical Consultant of Ogma Fitness Center , Consultant of Compal Computer Project )

References: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, 13th Edition. Chapter 27 Endocrinology and Aging.