Steroid hormones can be grouped into two classes:  3 sex steroid hormones (estrogens, progesterones and androgens) and 2 types of corticosteroids (typically made in the adrenal cortex, hence cortico-),    Vitamin D derivatives are a sixth closely related hormone system with homologous receptors.  All steroid hormones share the same core chemical structure of 4 carbon rings and are all derived from cholesterol.   As can be seen (see figure), the end product of this pathway is estradiol.  Progesterone can by converted to testosterone and testosterone can be converted to estradiol.  

Hormones are substances that act like messenger molecules in the body. After being made in one part of the body, they travel to other parts of the body where they help control how cells and organs do their work)   Sex hormones typically made in the gonads (ovaries or testis) or the placenta) but  genes from the sex chromosomes are expressed in all tissues of the body, including those of the immune system and the brain. 

• Steroid hormones are lipophilic (fat-loving) – meaning they can freely diffuse across the plasma membrane of a cell
• They bind to receptors in either the cytoplasm or nucleus of the target cell, to form an active receptor-hormone complex
• This activated complex will move into the nucleus and bind directly to DNA, acting as a transcription factor for gene expression

There are three main types of estrogen hormones which typically dominate in women:

• Estrone (E1)
• Estriol (E3)
• Estradiol (E2)

Typically in the circulation, E2 will make up to 40% of total estrogen, E1 will make up an additional 40%, with estriol (E3) comprising the remaining 20% of total estrogen In women, estradiol helps develop and sustain the female reproductive system, like facilitating ovulation and creating a hospitable environment for a fertilized egg. However, men also have estradiol in small amounts. 

In men, estradiol contributes to 

• Maintaining strong, healthy bones
• Supporting healthy cognitive and brain function
• Supporting chemical processes, like the creation of nitric oxide

With that, it’s important to maintain a healthy balance of estradiol and other estrogens—not too much, but not too little. A low estrogen level has been associated with a lower-than-average libido; excess estrogens can contribute to 

• Male fertility problems
• Erectile dysfunction (ED)
• Excess adipose (fatty) tissue, especially of the breasts (gynecomastia)
• Diminished bone density

In healthy men, estradiol synthesis is partly driven by the hormone aromatase. Aromatase converts androgens into estrogens (including E2). 

Estradiol production in men  is divided into two general areas 

• 80% is synthesized in the skin, brain, bone, and adipose tissue
• 20% is synthesized in the testes

Testosterone is critical to the male reproductive system. But testosterone levels also impact metabolism, energy, muscle strength and mass, mood, and mor for both men and women.   Low levels of free testosterone become increasingly common as we age.  Low testosterone is  associated with age-related chronic conditions, including heart disease and diabetes. In one meta-analysis, low testosterone was associated with an increased risk of death due to cardiovascular disease or any other cause.17 Scientists searched for years for ways to safely.

Testosterone may be bound to proteins or unbound (free.  Free testosterone refers to testosterone that circulates in the blood and is not associated with or bound by SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin), its carrier protein.   Free testosterone only represents about 2% of total testosterone in men, and even less in women.     Interestingly, unmetabolized estrogen is the body’s primary signal to increase the production and levels of the testosterone-binding protein.  Therefore, unmetabolized estrogen reduces free testosterone.  It seems that even a little bit of testosterone can make a big difference.  Low levels of free testosterone have been identified during perimenopause and are most dramatic in women with severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms.  

In some target tissues (adipose tissue, brain) aromatase cata- lyzes the conversion of testosterone to the female sex steroid hormone estradiol. The effect is then mediated via estrogen receptors (Carreau et al. 2003). Alternatively, 5α-reductase reduces testosterone to more a potent androgen dihydrotestoster- one (DHT) which also binds androgen receptor.

Certain drugs (finasteride and dutasteride)  are 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors used in the management and treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and androgenic alopecia (male pattern hair loss) 

Many topics are addressed on our educational website Younger Wellness for Women

 Vitamin D - unlike all other vitamins- is actually  a super pro-hormone, closely related chemically to estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.  Although traditionally known to be important in regulation of calcium and bone differentiation, we now know vitamin D is incredibly important for virtually all of our vital systems. Vitamin D influences more than 200 human genes, which could be impaired when we do not have enough vitamin D.  We can manufacture our own vitamin D when  sufficient sunlight hits our skin.  In fact, our skin and DNA are programmed to make sufficient amounts of Vitamin D.    Yet, most of us are Vitamin D deficient.  In fact, vitamin D deficiency is a global pandemic.  Why is that?     Click here for a detailed discussion.  

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) is an intracellular hormone receptor that specifically binds 1,25(OH)2D and interacts with vitamin D response elements of target genes to produce a variety of biologic effects.  The vitamin D receptor belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily of steroid/thyroid hormone receptors, and VDRs are expressed by cells in most organs, including the brain, heart, skin, gonads, prostate, breast and placenta.   VDR mediates many genomic and non-genomic effects of vitamin D. Therefore, VDR is as important as vitamin D itself.  

The genomic effects of vitamin D are due to the fact that it acts as a co-factor in gene transcription.  Intracellular vitamin D binds to nuclear VDR, which then interacts  with other nuclear hormone receptors, particularly the family of retinoid X receptors (RXR). This complex then binds to special DNA sequences called vitamin D response elements (VDRE) generally within the promoter region of the genes it regulates.  There are thousands of VDREs in hundreds of genes, often thousands of base pairs away from the coding portion of the gene regulated. The profile of active VDREs (and regulated genes) varies from cell to cell.

Recently, the mitochondrial effects of vitamin D have been characterized in many cell types.    Based on the vitamin D3 supplementation studies,  individuals show a personalized response to vitamin D3 and can be segregated into high, mid, and low responders which may be based on VDR.  Therefore, some individuals require more vitamin D than others to have the same effect.  

Viewed as a transcription co-factor that helps decode our DNA thoughout our body, it is not surprising that Vitamin D has such widespread effects.  This genomic  function of vitamin D in gene transcription takes hours to days.  Another non-genomic function of vitamin D is though calcium channels at a cell surface receptor and second messengers, leading to a more rapid response taking seconds to minutes. 

There is clear evidence that many health conditions are improved with Vitamin D.   Of the 30 leading causes of death in the United States in 2010, 19 have been linked to low vitamin D status including various forms of cardiovascular disease, various cancers, diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer's disease, and falls and fractures in the elderly.  Vitamin D deficiency can also help explain, at least in part, other common conditions like obesity, childhood obesity, melanoma, and autism.   Combining vitamin D3 with omega-3s and exercise is associated with a 60% lower risk of cancer in older adults. 

Going through menopause comes with many mental and physical changes. One of these changes is the amount of muscle mass, and menopause causes women to lose muscle mass and feel weak and exhausted. Countering this effect can be achieved through strength training, proper nutrition, and supplements to help build muscle after menopause. 

As women age, hormones naturally start to decline. For women, the primary sex hormone is estrogen, and as they approach menopause, estrogen levels decrease dramatically. This drastic reduction in estrogen plummets you into menopause. You're considered postmenopausal once you haven't had your period for 12 months or more. 

While this transition is natural, it comes with many side effects, and one of them is less muscle mass and weaker bones. The lack of muscle can bring out feeling exhausted and normal activities that once were easy like carrying groceries up flights of stairs or even exercising harder.

Estrogen is a vital hormone known more for its essential role in female reproduction. Still, it also has an effect on muscle growth. Estrogen has antioxidant properties and helps protect against inflammation. This can help with recovery post-workout from any possible muscle damage. It can also affect satellite cell activity, which is crucial for muscle repair and growth since it aids in muscle fiber enlargement. 

Estrogen is primarily produced in the ovaries and comes in three types. After menopause, only the weakest form of estrogen is produced. This type is estrone or E1. Your body can convert E1 into the stronger forms of estrogen, including estriol (the strongest form) but since reservoirs are lower, a supplement may be needed to boost levels.

Estrogen can also help use glucose in the muscles to provide more energy. More energy during a workout can encourage you to work harder and build more muscle. Another benefit of estrogen for muscle building is that it can help with using fat for energy, which could help with endurance exercises. 

Bone density is not directly related to muscle growth, but it needs to be mentioned. Estrogen plays a prominent role in building and maintaining strong bones. Healthy bones support solid muscles and with weight-bearing exercises that promote muscle growth. 

Cortisol, known as the stress hormone, has many effects on the body, but one of them is that it breaks down muscle tissue. Some evidence suggests that cortisol may help mitigate the muscle-degrading impacts, which helps protect muscles. 

Estrogen and menopause are directly linked, as are testosterone and muscle mass. While testosterone is a primary male sex hormone, women produce it, albeit at a much smaller level. And even more minor levels after menopause. Testosterone is critical for building muscle.  

Besides low hormones like estrogen and testosterone, other factors contribute to muscle loss. People with a poor diet and lack of protein will have difficulty increasing muscle mass. The level and type of exercise affect muscle maintenance and growth. Besides your lifestyle choices, genetics affect how strong you are and how much muscle you have. 

Taking supplements to build muscles has long been an activity health experts and laypeople have advocated. When used correctly, supplements can complement diet and exercise to support muscle growth and maintenance. However, it's essential to consult with your doctor or healthcare provider regarding which supplements are right for you. 

Below are some essential supplements for postmenopausal women to build muscles. It's important to note that choosing high-quality supplements tested by a third party and not interacting with your medications is essential for your health. 

Protein is the primary building block for muscle repair and growth. Protein powders come in many forms, from whey, casein, and plant-based forms. Some evidence suggests that women post-menopause need more protein than in child-bearing years. 

Regarding muscle-building supplements, creatine is one of the most researched and supportive supplements for athletic performance and muscle growth. It does this by helping workout performance by replenishing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in your body's cells. This increases energy and workout endurance. Both can lead to more muscles.

See above

Also see below.  If you love fatty fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts, you'll be happy to know you're lapping up omega-3 fatty acids. They have long been recognized for numerous health benefits connected to cardiovascular health and inflammation modulation. 

Still, over the past few years, research has looked at the potential advantages of omega-3 fatty acids in muscle growth and health. Some studies indicate that supplementation with omega-3 can stimulate muscle protein synthesis in adults. 

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, and it's the connective tissue in your skin, bones, and ligaments. It's not typically associated with muscle growth, but it indirectly affects muscle mass and function. Since tendons and ligaments are full of collagen, having an abundant supply makes transferring force between the bones and muscles easier during a workout. 

The most common and effective treatment for menopause is estrogen hormone replacement therapy. It also can improve muscle mass indirectly due to its relationship with healthy bone creation and the cortisol effect. Estrogen supplementation comes in different forms, but the most effective is a topical cream. Your skin soaks up the hormone and transfers it to awaiting receptors.

Menopause brings about many changes, but one is the amount of individual strength. Decreasing muscle mass is expected, and certain supplements like estrogen, vitamin D, and collagen can help bring back some power in your life - in more than one place. 

Like the burning of a fuse, telomeres at the ends of our chromosomes steadily shorten every time a cell replicates itself.1,2

A study from The Lancet evaluating telomere length on a group of individuals age 60 and over found that those with shorter telomeres had a 3.18-fold higher mortality rate from heart disease and an 8.54-fold higher mortality rate from infectious disease.

Telomeres, which are made up of repeating units of DNA sequences, hold the key to biological aging.4 Once telomeres reach a critically short length, further cellular replications are prevented, leading to aging (senescence) of the cell.1,2,5

These senescent cells eventually accumulate or die. Senescent cells no longer contribute to active tissue maintenance.1,2 In fact, telomere length has become useful as a biomarker of cellular aging.4-7

Studies show plenty of triggers that accelerate telomere shortening, including oxidative stresses, inflammation, and obesity.1,8 Shortened telomeres are found in people with age-related disorders such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurodegeneration, and osteoporosis.9,10 Not surprisingly then, the search is on for ways to preserve telomere length in normal cells, with the aim of sustaining cellular youth and healthy functioning.

Cells naturally contain an enzyme called telomerase, which adds new DNA to the ends of telomeres, helping to keep them long enough to support cellular activities.11 In the past few years, scientists have accumulated an impressive array of evidence showing that one way of supporting healthy, long telomeres is to get an adequate intake of vitamins.4,11-14

There is now intriguing evidence demonstrating how supplemental vitamins can preserve telomere length and sustain more youthful cell functions.

The B vitamins, including vitamins B6, B12, and folate, are essential factors in the metabolism of the molecules that make up DNA.6 Their importance is therefore critical in supporting normal cellular replication. Low levels of B vitamins are common in aging adults, and are closely associated with risk for developing age-related diseases.5,15

Homocysteine is a molecule associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk and poor blood vessel function. B vitamins are necessary for normal disposal of homocysteine, which accumulates under conditions of B vitamin deficiency. Both elevated homocysteine levels and diminished B vitamin levels are closely associated with premature shortening of telomeres, leading to accelerated cellular aging.5,15,16 Thus, homocysteine-induced telomere shortening may be the central connection between B vitamin deficiency, high homocysteine levels and cardiovascular disease.16

It has long been known that B vitamin supplementation reduces homocysteine levels, and it was recently shown that people whose B vitamin levels are low have shorter telomeres.5,15

Taken together, these findings suggest that keeping B vitamins at adequate levels is an effective means of both lowering toxic homocysteine levels and supporting longer telomeres.

Long thought to be limited to promoting calcium absorption in the intestines, vitamin D has become known as one of the most versatile of nutrients.10 Vitamin D receptors are found on cells throughout the body, suggesting that still more functions await discovery.17

Recently, a molecular link was found between vitamin D and DNA repair an action required for maintenance of telomere length.18 Higher plasma vitamin D levels have been associated with longer telomeres.19 These findings have triggered other studies of vitamin D and its role in telomere function.

For example, patients undergoing hemodialysis for kidney failure have both decreased telomere length and lower vitamin D levels compared with healthy controls.12 But dialysis patients treated with vitamin D3 were shown to have longer telomeres than untreated patients, potentially explaining the beneficial health effects of supplementation in these individuals.12

In a more generalized study, vitamin D supplementation in a group of overweight Americans, at a dose of 2000 IU/day, increased subjects' telomerase activity by more than 19%.1 This finding suggests that vitamin D plays an important role in supporting telomere lengthening and as a result has antiaging potential.

Studies of vitamin C demonstrate that telomere shortening can be reduced by up to 62% on untreated controls in cultures of human blood vessel cells.20 The result was a significant extension of cellular lifespan, and reduction in physical changes associated with cell aging. This in turn was associated with sharp reductions in cellular free radicals.20

Near-identical results have now been shown in cultures of human heart-muscle cells, demonstrating that vitamin C can work to slow cardiovascular aging by preserving telomere length.21

A dramatic demonstration of the value of vitamin C's role in aging-deceleration was provided by a 2016 study of cellular model of Werner Syndrome, a premature aging disorder.22 After testing numerous compounds for their ability to slow or reverse the rapid aging, scientists identified vitamin C as the most efficient "rescue" for many premature aging characteristics of the cells.22 Treated cells showed longer telomeres, reduced secretion of inflammatory cytokines, and improved integrity of their cellular nuclei, all features of much younger cells. Indeed, in a mouse model of Werner Syndrome, vitamin C rescued aging cells from premature death by altering expression of genes involved in the maintenance of DNA integrity.22

Vitamin E comes in a total of 8 different forms, four each in the tocopherol and tocotrienol categories. Alpha-tocopherol, one of the most-studied forms of vitamin E, dramatically slows age-related telomere shortening, even in the presence of powerful oxidant molecules such as hydrogen peroxide.13,14 This has been proven to result from a tocopherol-induced increase in telomerase that persists even into middle-aged cells.14 Similar results have been shown in cells treated with gamma-tocotrienol, which not only prevented telomere shortening but also enhanced the viability of older cells in culture.23

In a dramatic finding, incubating aging human cells with a tocotrienol-rich formulation reversed the aging-induced structural changes to cells to the point that they resembled younger cells, with less DNA damage and more cells ready for fruitful replication.24 Here again, the effects were attributable to increased telomerase activity.24

A study measured telomere length in humans given fish oil supplements. The results showed that reducing plasma levels of omega-6 fats coupled with increased omega-3s (from fish oil) resulted in an increase in telomere lengths.27

The scientists attributed this telomere length increase to reductions in inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress brought on by higher levels of omega-3s in relationship to pro-inflammatory omega-6s.

Omega-6 fats to avoid include corn, sunflower, and safflower oils, along with arachidonic acid found in red meat and egg yolks. Olive oil, rich in monounsaturated fats, should be substituted for omega-6 oils whenever possible. Dietary sources of omega-3s include coldwater fish, walnuts, and flax seed.

In this human study where telomeres were lengthened, scientists used between 1,250-2,500 mg of EPA/DHA fish oil daily to boost omega-3 plasma levels in relation to omega-6s.27 Life Extension readers typically consume 2,400 mg of EPA/DHA daily in their fish oil supplement.

Carotenoids are yellow pigment molecules closely related to Vitamin A. Their molecular structures promote their powerful antioxidant actions, though they also appear to have other effects.

Studies show that older people with higher plasma levels of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin have significantly longer telomeres than those with lower levels.25 In people 20 years and older, a doubling of blood levels of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin was associated with 2% longer telomeres.7 Those with the highest carotenoid levels had telomeres 5% to 8% longer than those in the lowest category.7

Intake of the carotenoid nutrients is also closely associated with longer telomeres, although this effect may depend to some extent on genetic factors related to carotene metabolism.26

 A detailed discussion can be found here 

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that between 25 percent and 35 percent of your total daily calories should consist of fat. Most of this intake should be from unsaturated fat- monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Foods containing unsaturated fats include:

• Nuts
• Plant oils such as canola, vegetable, or plant oil
• Certain fish like salmon, tuna, and anchovy, which contain omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids
• Olives/ olive oil
• Avocados

The Mediterranean diet is one heavily influenced by monounsaturated fats. People in Mediterranean countries consume more total fat than Northern European countries, but most of the fat is in the form of monounsaturated fatty acids from olive oil and omega-3 fatty acids from fish, vegetables, and certain meats like lamb, while consumption of saturated fat is minimal in comparison. A 2017 review found evidence that the practice of a Mediterranean diet could lead to a decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases, overall cancer incidence, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and early death. 

Olive oil is one of the healthiest fats around and contains about 75% monosaturated fats.  

A large analysis of 42 studies with more than 800,000 participants found that olive oil was the only source of monounsaturated fat that seemed to reduce heart disease risk.

Research has shown that one of olive oil's heart-healthy effects is an increase in HDL cholesterol. This effect is thought to be caused by antioxidants it contains called polyphenols.

In addition to raising HDL levels, olive oil has been found to boost HDL's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant function in studies of older people and individuals with high cholesterol levels

Extra virgin olive oil has more polyphenols than more processed olive oils, although the amount can still vary among different types and brands. Whenever possible, select high-quality, certified extra virgin olive oils, which tend to be highest in polyphenols.

Omega-3 fats are a key family of polyunsaturated fats.   The human body can make most of the types of fats it needs from other fats or raw materials. That isn’t the case for omega-3 fatty acids (also called omega-3 fats and n-3 fats). These are essential fats—the body can’t make them from scratch but must get them from food. Foods high in Omega-3 include fish, vegetable oils, nuts (especially walnuts), flax seeds, flaxseed oil, and leafy vegetables.  The four most common omega-3s found in food are ALA, EPA, ETA and DHA. 

What makes omega-3 fats special?  They have many powerful health benefits for your body and brain.  In fact, few nutrients have been studied as thoroughly as omega-3 fatty acids.   They are an integral part of cell membranes throughout the body and affect the function of the cell receptors in these membranes. They provide the starting point for making hormones that regulate blood clotting, contraction and relaxation of artery walls, and inflammation. They also bind to receptors in cells that regulate genetic function. Likely due to these effects, omega-3 fats have been shown to help prevent heart disease and stroke, may help control lupus, eczema, and rheumatoid arthritis, and may play protective roles in cancer and other conditions.

Omega-3 fatty acids are vital for optimal health.

Getting them from whole foods — such as fatty fish two times per week — is the best way to ensure robust omega-3.  However, if you don't eat a lot of fatty fish, then you may want to consider taking an omega-3 supplement. For people deficient in omega-3, this is an inexpensive and effective way to improve health.   

 A detailed discussion can be found here

Methylation is a chemical process that happens billions of times per second in every cell of the body.  Methyl groups are transferred and donated between many different molecules which change their structure and function. Methyl groups act like billions of switches which turn genes on or off, help regulate mood, detoxify hormones, produce energy, and promote healthy aging.

Vitamins, minerals, and amino acids from the diet are needed to keep this process running smoothly. There are also genetic factors and oxidative stressors which can affect how well this pathway works.

Methylation defects have been associated with many clinical conditions including, but not limited to some forms of cancer, a variety of mental conditions ranging from depression to autism and dementia, and cardiovascular disease.   The role in pregnancy will be discussed in a separate post. 

Now consider this:  about 40% of people have mutations in methylation and 10% have more severe mutations. 

Methyl-folate is a key player in methylation, the process of adding a methyl group to a compound.   Methylation is needed to create DNA and RNA and regulate gene expression. It helps make creatine, which is needed for skeletal muscle contraction. Methylation is involved in basic energy production, fat metabolism, immune responses, vascular health, and cell membrane repair. It produces and metabolites neurotransmitters to regulate mood. Methylation also works to neutralize toxins and hormones.

Methyl-folate keeps your body running through methylation. 

It’s involved in: 

• Repairing and regenerating your cells, tissues and DNA
• Regulating gene expression and protein function
• Synthesizing neurotransmitters that influence mood, sleep, behavior, cognition and memory
• Controlling homocysteine (an amino acid that can damage blood vessels) 
• Controlling inflammation 
• Assisting your liver in processing fats
• Activating and regulating the immune system
• Modifying toxins and heavy metals.  

The human body contains over 50 trillion cells, and each cell contains a complete set of instructions for making you. The instructions are encoded in your DNA. Short segments of DNA are called genes. Your DNA is the cookbook, your genes the recipes. Genes encode for specific proteins, and those proteins play a crucial role in the function of the body’s tissues and organs. Humans have about 20,000 genes. 

The MTHFR gene provides instructions for making an enzyme called methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR).  The MTHFR locus is mapped on chromosome 1 at the end of the short arm, This enzyme is important for the folate metabolism which is an integral process for cell metabolism in the DNA, RNA and protein methylation.   

Variations of MTHFR include mutations of

• C677T. About 30-40% of the American population may have a mutation at gene position C677T. About 25%of people of Hispanic descent, and 10% of Caucasian descent are homozygous (have two mutations) for this variant which is a more severe variant. 
• A1298C. About 20% of the American population may have a homozygous mutation at gene position A1298C.
• It’s also possible to acquire both C677T and A1298C mutations (one copy of each).

Those of us with the MTHFR mutation produce 30 to 70% less methyl-folate than someone without the mutation does.  

Less methyl-folate can increase homocysteine levels and less of the anti-oxidant methione (see homocysteine metabolism here).    

 There has been considerable interest in homocysteine, a sulfur-containing amino acid because of the recognition that increased homocysteinemia is an important risk factor for vascular disease, including stroke, independent of long-recognized factors such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and smoking.  In addition to its association with cerebrovascular disease, homocysteine may play a role in neurodegenerative disorders, even if only as a marker of functional vitamin B12 deficiency. Homocysteine is also important to neurologists since most anticonvulsants raise homocysteine levels, an effect that may explain the teratogenic effects of these drugs.  

Elevated homocysteine levels have been associated with a range of 'inflammatory' conditions and health risks:

• Elevated homocysteine levels affect the interior lining of blood vessels in the body, increasing the risk of atherosclerosis or narrowing of blood vessels. This can result in early heart attack and stroke.
• There is a relationship between the levels of homocysteine in the body and the size of the carotid arteries that supply the brain with blood; the higher homocysteine level, the narrower (stenosed) the carotid artery becomes.
• The risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism may be linked to elevated homocysteine levels.
• There may be a relationship between elevated homocysteine levels and broken bones, especially in the elderly.
• Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia may be more frequently seen in patients with increased or elevated levels of the amino acid in the blood.
• In infants who have the genetic condition homocystinuria, the inherited abnormalities affect the body's metabolism of homocysteine to cysteine with a range of abnormalities. 
• In pregnancy, elevated homocysteine levels may be associated with some fetal abnormalities and with potential blood vessel problems in the placenta, causing abruption. There may also be an association with pre-eclampsia. 

  Biosynthesis and regulation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) has recently gained a lot of attention. A systemic decline in NAD+ across many tissues is associated with all the hallmarks of aging. NAD+ can affect a variety of cellular processes, including metabolic pathways, DNA repair, and immune cell activity, both directly and indirectly. These cellular processes play a vital role in maintaining homeostasis, but as people get older, their tissue and cellular NAD+ levels decrease, and this drop in NAD+ levels has been connected to a number of age-related disorders. By restoring NAD+ levels, several of these age-related disorders can be delayed or even reversed.  

 NMN is a potent precursor for NAD+, synthesized from vitamin B3 in the form of nicotinamide. For years, it was thought that NMN was unable to enter cells on its own. It was thought necessary to convert NMN to nicotinamide riboside (NR), a different NAD+ precursor. NR would then enter cells, and be converted back to NMN. Yet no one could explain the fast pharmacokinetics  the surprising speed with which it moved from the gut to the bloodstream and then tissues throughout the body. Animal experiments had already proven that this entire journey takes place in a matter of minutes—too fast for multiple biochemical transformations.17 In 2019 groundbreaking research showed that NMN has a unique and dedicated transporter (Slc12a8) that can move the molecule quickly across the cell membrane and into the cell where it can be transformed rapidly into NAD+.3  The researchers report that this NMN transporter is critical for aging individuals; as NAD+ levels fall with age, levels of this transporter are upregulated so that more NMN can enter cells and enrich levels of NAD+. These new findings suggest that, due to NMN’s critical role in repleting NAD+, the body has more than one route of bringing it into the cell—both directly with its own transporter, and by moving NR into the cell and then transforming NR into NMN. Supplementing with NMN may improve adult human metabolism, rendering it more like that of someone ten or twenty years younger.18 In animal studies, NMN has enhanced NAD+ biosynthesis in pancreas, adipose, heart, eyes, blood vessel, skeletal muscle, kidney tissues and more.8,19,20 NMN has been shown to improve against age-associated physical decline, weight gain, energy decline, and decreased physical activity, without any obvious toxicity.17 NMN also suppresses age-related adipose tissue inflammation, enhances insulin secretion and insulin action, supports healthy mitochondrial function, improves neuronal function in the brain, stimulates new blood vessel  

 NMN and NR demonstrated protect against diabetes, Alzheimer disease, endothelial dysfunction, and inflammation. They also reverse gut dysbiosis and promote beneficial effects at intestinal and extraintestinal levels. 

 R and NMN are chemically identical, with the exception of one phosphate group present on NMN. The study demonstrates that this additional phosphate group must be removed from NMN, converting it into nicotinamide riboside before it can enter the cell. 

 NAD+ is a very important molecule, having a myriad of effects in our cells, including enabling the proper functioning of sirtuins, enzymes that protect our DNA and regulate the epigenome, and helping PARPs to do their job, which is repairing damaged DNA. 

 nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) has been shown to offer great therapeutic potential with promising results in age-related chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, cognitive impairment, and many others. Further, human interventions are required to study the long-term effects of supplementing NMN with varying doses 

 NMN is ultimately converted to NAD+, a redox cofactor that mediates many metabolic enzymes. NAD+ also serves as the substrate for poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and sirtuins, and regulates various biological processes, such as metabolism, DNA repair, gene expression, and stress responses. Previous mouse models showed that NMN administration can increase NAD+ in various organs and ameliorate aging-related diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, and Alzheimer's disease through NAD+-mediated pathways. However, evidence of its effect on humans is still scarce. 

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels in the body deplete with aging and it is associated with downregulation of energy production in mitochondria, oxidative stress, DNA damage, cognitive impairment and inflammatory conditions. However, NMN, as the precursor of NAD+, can slow down this process by elevating NAD+ levels in the body. A number of in vivo studies have indicated affirmative results of therapeutic effects for various age-induced complications with NMN supplementation 

 WHY TMG? As NAD+ biosynthesis rises, methylation activity increases. Trimethylglycine (TMG) is a methyl donor that supports the action of NMN and the liver.24 TMG provides significant methylation support by donating three methyl groups. Methylation is needed by the ‘longevity’ enzymes known as the sirtuins, which depend on NAD+ and which require the methylation of nicotinamide (NAM), a form of vitamin B3.25,26 The sirtuin family is thought to delay fundamental aspects of aging and to be responsible, in great part, for the cardiometabolic benefits of lean diets and exercise.27 Nicotinamide (NAM) has been shown to consume a significant amount of TMG when being methylated by the body.28 

 Curr Nutr Rep 2023 Sep;12(3):445-464. doi: 10.1007/s13668-023-00475-y. 

 Mol Biol Rep 2022 Oct;49(10):9737-9748. doi: 10.1007/s11033-022-07459-1. Epub 2022 Apr 20. 

 J Adv Res. 2022 Mar; 37: 267–278. 

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone that your body naturally produces in the adrenal gland. DHEA helps produce other hormones, including testosterone and estrogen. Natural DHEA levels peak in early adulthood and then slowly fall as you age.

A synthetic version of DHEA is available as a tablet, capsule, powder, topical cream and gel.

People use DHEA as an anti-aging therapy and to improve physical performance. DHEA is also used to treat depression and symptoms of menopause.

 Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and its metabolite, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate ester (DHEAS), are the most abundant circulating steroid hormones, and are synthesized in the zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex, in the gonads, and in the brain. The precise physiological role of DHEA and DHEAS is not yet fully understood, but these steroid hormones can act as androgens, estrogens, and neurosteroids, and perform many roles in the human body. Since both levels decline with age, use of DHEA supplements have gained more attention due to being advertised as an antidote to aging in postmenopausal women, who may have concerns on age-related diseases and overall well-being.  

 At the time of menopause, the secretion of DHEA decreases to around 60% [27], and the production of estrogen stops, resulting in low E2 levels [26]. The endometrium is free of estrogenic stimulation, thus eliminating utilization of progestin therapy and fear of progestin-induced breast cancer [28]. In other words, after menopause, progesterone is no more needed to protect potential estrogenic stimuli. Due to the absence of enzymes that transform DHEA into estrogens, endometrium is unstimulated, and aromatase is undetectable. About 20% of postmenopausal women are asymptomatic due to sufficient supply of sex steroids from DHEA, but approximately 60% of postmenopausal women have one or more symptoms of menopause 

 Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone that your body naturally produces in the adrenal gland. DHEA helps produce other hormones, including testosterone and estrogen. Natural DHEA levels peak in early adulthood and then slowly fall as you age.  DHEA supplements can be made from wild yam or soy. Scientists don't know everything DHEA does. But they do know that it functions as a precursor to male and female sex hormones, including testosterone and estrogen. Precursors are substances that are converted by the body into a hormone.Sep 15, 2023 

 Multiple studies have found lowered serum concentrations of DHEAS in patients with poor life quality, psychosocial stress, and functional impairment. Higher concentrations of DHEAS have been connected to better functioning, greater enjoyment of leisure activities, and overall higher life satisfaction. Blood DHEAS concentrations are believed to have positive correlation to the liveliness of premenopausal women, but are unrelated in postmenopausal women. Nonetheless, in another study, 80% of postmenopausal women undergoing DHEA treatment reported improved well-being and vitality [21]. 

 s women age, they experience a drop in DHEA levels, which are potentially linked to hormone deficiency, postmenopausal symptoms, and many age-related diseases. There is a possibility that those who are healthier are more prone to have higher DHEA levels. DHEA has important functions in the human body, but it is crucial to ask oneself whether being healthy or having nourishing DHEA levels is a priority. Many may get a hold of DHEA supplements in hopes of improving libido and sense of well-being. Since DHEA is able to convert to androgen or estrogen, many propose DHEA replacement therapy may yield beneficial effects, such as improving menopausal vasomotor symptoms when converted to estrogen, increasing libido and boosting well-being from its androgenic effects. With a daily dose of 50 mg of oral DHEA, data suggest DHEA supplements may have a role in preserving the integrity of the immune system by attacking cancer cells and viruses, maximizing anti-cancer function, and enhancing the activity of monocytes, especially in individuals with autoimmune diseases. Moreover, due to inhibitory effect on the development of mammary carcinoma, DHEA may be used to treat breast cancer. However, further investigation is needed [15]. 

DHEA production peaks in your mid-20s. In most people, production gradually declines with age.

Testosterone and estrogen production also generally declines with age. DHEA supplements can increase the level of these hormones. That's why a number of claims have been made about their potential health 

 Many studies have shown those who have low DHEA may be prone to cardiovascular diseases; therefore, the correlation between the two has been contended by several researchers. Studies have confirmed that DHEA is inversely associated with cholesterol levels, obesity, and diabetes, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease and heart failure. DHEA is a potent inhibitor of fibroblast growth and carcinogenesis in cell culture, which may be a reasonable mechanism between DHEA and coronary diseases [2]. Some studies have reported that DHEA production is inhibited in people with heart failures, which prevents the cardioprotective action [20]. Moreover, DHEA can reverse cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, improve collagen and fibronectin formation and function, and decrease myocardial fibrosis. DHEA treatment also improves the cardiac index and inhibits right ventricular capillary rarefaction, fibrosis, and oxidative stress [30]. 

 Since DHEA levels decline with age, some researchers speculate that supplementing your body's falling levels of the hormone might help fight aging. And some small studies have reported positive anti-aging effects from the use of DHEA supplements. But a similar number of studies have reported no effect. 

DHEA supplements are sometimes used by athletes because of a claim that it can improve muscle strength and enhance athletic performance. That's because DHEA is a "prohormone" -- a substance that can increase the level of steroid hormones such as testosterone.

There is little evidence to show that DHEA has any effect on enhancing muscle strength. Its use is banned by sports organizations such as the National Football League, Major League Baseball, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

benefits.

Possible side effects of DHEA supplements can include:

• Oily skin and acne, as well as skin thickening
• Hair loss
• Stomach upset
• High blood pressure
• Changes in menstrual cycle
• Facial hair in women
• Deepening of the voice in women
• Fatigue
• Nasal congestion
• Headache
• Rapid or irregular heart beat
• Insomnia
• Unfavorable changes in cholesterol levels

 DHEA and Pregnenolone are precursor hormones. This means that cholesterol makes pregnenolone-the mother hormone, which makes DHEA, which makes oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone, amongst other adrenal hormones (cortisol, aldosterone). 

 DHEA is in fact known to decrease cardiovascular risk factors by improving vascular remodeling in the face of high blood pressure, improving insulin sensitivity and reducing obesity, and increasing HDL levels.9-12 No studies have been published demonstrating that pregnenolone raises any cardiovascular risk factors. 

 Because both DHEA and pregnenolone boost natural levels of testosterone as well as estrogen, there is some concern that women who take the supplements might express more masculine traits such as male pattern baldness, hair growth on the face, and aggressive behaviors. In practice, however, these effects appear infrequently and are mild and reversible when they do occur.18,19 

 Some of the beneficial neurosteroid effects of pregnenolone result from an increased activity of brain cells. But in people with known seizure disorders (epilepsy), and in animal studies where the steroid is directly injected into the brain, this effect can lower the seizure threshold and make a seizure more likely.20-24 There are no published studies, however, suggesting an increased risk of seizures from pregnenolone supplementation in humans without a prior seizure history. 

Pregnenolone creams are dietary supplements that can help with different medical conditions in women's health and men's health. Taking pregnenolone can boost hormone levels, encourage weight loss, and improve sleep quality. The potential benefits vary depending on age, health situation, and dosage, but scientific and anecdotal evidence show that pregnenolone creams work. 

Pregnenolone is a precursor hormone that helps produce steroid hormones in the body. As a naturally occurring hormone, it's generated in the adrenal glands and converted from cholesterol. 

Sometimes called pregnenolone sulfate, the mother hormone can be confused with progesterone because of the similar name. But this confusion is understandable because, as a precursor hormone, pregnenolone is the foundation for the steroid hormones DHEA, testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen. 

Small amounts of pregnenolone become these hormones, so in essence, progesterone and pregnenolone are the same. The body uses pregnenolone to fight age, improve heart health and stress management. Yet too much can cause some possible side effects, such as hair loss. However, this usually comes from oral pregnenolone supplementation. 

Pregnenolone creams are different from oral pregnenolone. Transdermal creams come in an easy-to-use pump system that makes it easy to control the amount of pregnenolone. Compound pharmacies can make pregnenolone cream to fit individual dosage and mixtures. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't assess nutritional supplements, but this doesn't mean they aren't valuable or work. 

Pregnenolone creams are available without a prescription refill. They come infused with other natural ingredients, such as aloe vera gel and grape seed extract. Men and women can gently rub the pregnenolone on the skin's delicate parts, such as the wrists, inner thighs, and neck, for quick absorption. 

The aloe vera and pregnenolone together soothe skin while helping boost levels. In related products, transdermal creams come in estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, and other hormones. 

“If you haven’t heard of Glutathione yet, you will,” says Mark Hyman, MD, founder of The UltraWellness Center in Lenox, Mass., and a pioneer in the field of functional medicine. “In terms of staying healthy, it is one of the most important molecules in the body.”

People with higher Glutathione levels:

• Have less inflammation.
• Have reduced joint discomfort.
• Have strengthened immune systems.
• Have more energy.
• Have improved stamina and endurance.
• Recover faster from exercise and illness.
• Have greater mental clarity and focus.
• Sleep better.
• Live better, longer.

Glutathione is perhaps the single most important adjunct therapy offered at Boston Testosterone.

It’s the most powerful anti-oxidant in the world. Contained within our bodies, Glutathione acts as a buffer for any harmful toxins, chemicals or damaged cells that are introduced. And in an increasingly toxic environment, having optimized Glutathione levels has never been more important. It’s been dubbed the Mother of all Antioxidants by Dr. Hyman.

It’s also a powerful and immensely important anti-cancer and heart disease protector. Glutathione also also detoxifies the brain by way of its scavenging of oxidative byproducts and chelation (capture and excretion) of heavy metals. Glutathione protects neve cells and the nerve conduction critical to our mental processing, especially from the toxin mercury.

Glutathione occupies an important place in our bodies and is believed to neutralize at least thirty cancer-causing substances. It acts by blocking free radicals that damage cell DNA, leading to mutations and transformations into tumors.

Can high Glutathione levels be the key to living to 100?

With Glutathione meaning better detoxification, it follows logically then that people with the highest levels should live the longest. That was the theory that drove Danish researchers to enroll 41 centenarians (people over 100 years of age) in a study of glutathione levels. Their results, published in the journal Age and Ageing, found that Glutathione levels were highest in the healthiest seniors. Additionally, they discovered that the centenarians had higher levels of glutathione than people 20 to 40 years younger, hinting that Glutathione may be one reason why their subjects had lived to such a ripe age. Andersen HR, et al., Age Ageing. 1998 Sep;27(5):643-8

Glutathione also prevents peroxidation of fats which damage cell membranes. This is facilitated by deposition of fat in the blood vessel walls. By preventing this process, Glutathione greatly reduces the risk of heart disease, including the most fatal angina, myocardial infarction.

Scientists are now speculating that low glutathione levels are partly to blame for the free-radical-induced illnesses so common in middle age and later, such as Alzheimer’s, cancer and heart disease. Indeed, research published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that, among people with heart disease, those with the least amount of Glutathione in their blood were 30 percent more likely to have a heart attack than those with the most glutathione.

The bad news: Glutathione can be depleted rather quickly if a person is sick, has been working out hard, drinking or smoking which can lead to more illness. High stress levels, certain medications, past infections and a poor diet can all nibble away at the body’s Glutathione stash.

And naturally decreasing Glutathione production leaves most of us deficient. (see the chart to the right).

The good news: Protecting your glutathione levels is simple with Boston Testosterone Centers! As a patient of ours, we can optimize your Glutathione levels quickly and easily through SubQ administration prescription or through an IV Infusion at one of our clinics.

And for those that exercise or are athletic-orientated people, Glutathione is very beneficial.

Top athletes have discovered maintaining high levels allow them to train harder, longer, and recover faster.

They consistently report their energy levels have reached new highs and they have higher levels of endurance.

“Raised glutathione levels include increase strength and endurance. Those interested in physical fitness can benefit from a definite athletic edge.” Journal of Applied Physiology 87: 1381-1385, 1999

“We literally cannot survive without this super antioxidant.” Earl Mindell, R.Ph., PhD

Read also the following excerpt from Dr. Herbert Nagasawa, one of the worlds leading research scientists on cellular function.

“Categorically and without any equivocation whatsoever, I can tell you that Glutathione is THE most important endogenous antioxidant there is. For one thing it is manufactured by your own body. Secondly… it is the only antioxidant that can recycle itself. No other antioxidant can do that.

One of the major functions of Glutathione is maintain what is known as cellular redox homeostasis. The simplification of this is that Glutathione helps maintain the oxidational level of cells and holds it in check.

A good example of this is the hemoglobin in your red blood cells has to be in a reduced state before it can carry oxygen. In other words, if it is oxidized hemoglobin, like in methemoglobin, oxygen cannot bind to methemoglobin therefore methemoglobin is not any good for carrying oxygen to your cells. It is Glutathione that reduces hemoglobin to the +2 state, which is the reduced state, and then it can carry oxygen on through your blood.

Another function of Glutathione is that it will protect against oxidative stress of the immune system allowing newly formed immune cells to proliferate to attack germs, viruses and the like.

Glutathione is the master of sequestering free radicals. Free radicals are generated normally in your metabolic processes. It not only sequesters those free radicals that are unwanted, it will take the free radicals that are generated as a result of exposure to your environment. You are constantly expose to industrial environments and chemicals and other agents that produce free radicals in your body. Glutathione will sequester this.

Glutathione is also important in protecting the nucleus and DNA of the cell and most importantly the mitochondrial DNA of the cell. Mitochondrial DNA is not very well protected. If you damage the mitochondrial DNA it results in cell death. This is what Glutathione protects against.

Glutathione is also important in the protein biosynthesis process. What happens is Glutathione takes amino acids, which are as you know the building blocks of protein, from the outside of the cell and transports it to the inside of the cell where protein biosynthesis can take place.

One of the most important things in this modern industrial world is that Glutathione is the first line of protection against environmental chemicals and toxins. It not only sequesters free radicals but other things like household chemicals that could be ingested or [absorbed] on the skin.

I can tell you again that Glutathione is the most important endogenous antioxidant there is.”

Dr. Nagasawa received his B.S. degree in chemistry from Western Reserve University (now, Case-Western Reserve) in Cleveland, Ohio, and a Ph.D. degree in organic chemistry from the University of Minnesota. Subsequently, he spent two years as a Post-doctoral Fellow in biochemistry at the University of Minnesota before joining the research staff of the V.A. Medical Center in Minneapolis as a Senior Chemist. He was appointed Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Minnesota in 1959. He was named Principal Scientist of the VAMC in 1961 and was promoted in 1976 to Senior Research Career Scientist, a nationwide VA title reserved for the VA’s top scientists. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1963 and to Professor of Medicinal Chemistry in 1973.

Dr. Nagasawa has held joint professorships in the Department of Pharmacology and the university-wide Division of Toxicology, and served as Visiting Professor at Washington State University in 1990. He also served for 32 years as a Senior Editor for the prestigious international Journal of Medicinal Chemistry from 1972 to 2004, and one year as Acting Editor-in-Chief. In addition, he served on the Editorial Board of the journal, Bioconjugate Chemistry for eight years, and as an ad hoc grant reviewer for the NCI and NIAAA, National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Nagasawa has published over 165 papers in peer-reviewed journals. In June of 2010, Dr. Nagasawa and his team attended the National Institutes of Health-Homeland Security 4th Annual Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats Network Symposium to present their work on the cyanide antidote.

Dr. Nagasawa ha long been regarded as one of the worlds leading research scientists on cellular function, Glutathione and the chemistry and delivery of Glutathione. He and his laboratory have be awarded an extraordinary 9 patents.

If you’d like to read what other leading doctors have said regarding the importance of Glutathione, message us.

Taurine Improves Testosterone
Taurine has been proven to raise testosterone production, while not raising the concentration of estradiol, an estrogenic hormone. A study in Amino Acids  found that taurine supplementation stimulated testosterone production. A suggested dose ranges from 3 to 5 grams of taurine a day for an 85 kg man.

Obviously, having adequate testosterone levels is essential for the ideal male body composition because testosterone improves lean mass development and fights fat gain. Plus, it’s well known low testosterone in men is linked with poor health, particularly bad metabolism and the development of diabetes.

Taurine is one nutrient among many that should be attended to for adequate reproductive health in both men and women. Along with taurine, carnitine, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin D are all essential for health and body composition.

Taurine Fights Oxidative Stress
Taurine is a highly effective, if lesser known, antioxidant. Its ability to abolish free radicals and keep cells alive and healthy is partly due to how it helps maintain homeostasis and balance in the body. 

The integrated benefits of omega-3s and taurine in the body were demonstrated in a new study published in the International Journal of Molecular Medicine that measured the inflammatory status  of fat tissue in response to a diet that included supplemental sardine protein. Sardines contain some of the highest concentrations of EPA and DHA omega-3s of all fish, making them an excellent dietary addition, and they also contain taurine and vitamin E, another potent antioxidant.

This study found that sardine protein minimized fat gain in response to a diet high in fructose. In addition, glucose uptake improved, oxidative stress markers were reduced, and inflammation decreased.

Taurine Enhances Performance & Accelerates Recovery 
Taurine supplementation will increase force production, improve endurance and performance in both aerobic and anaerobic system sports.

For example, one recent study showed that intense exercise significantly lowers muscle taurine levels, but that administering taurine during the exercise session counters the loss of taurine and helps improve work capacity.

In this study, taurine supplementation improved endurance performance compared to a placebo group. Plus, following the exercise tests, urinary loss of creatine and other biomarkers were reduced. This means that taurine administration improved recovery and reduced the effects of muscle fatigue.

One reason taurine improves performance and time to exhaustion is its ability to improve fat burning. One study showed taurine ingestion prior to a prolonged cycling time trial resulted in better performance and a 16 percent increase in total fat oxidation compared to a control group. 

Taurine also helps the fast-twitch muscles produce peak force by supporting the contractile properties and countering fatigue. It’s likely a combination of better energy production and the ability of taurine to maintain homeostasis in the body that play a role in increasing force in type 2 muscle fibers.

 Protects Cardiovascular Health
Taurine will protect the heart and lower blood pressure, and raising muscular levels has been shown to improve the exercise capacity of patients with heart failure. A recent study in the Journal of Cardiology compared the effects of 500 mg of taurine three times a day with a placebo on patients with left ventricular heart failure.

The patients who received the taurine significantly increased exercise distance, and they improved their functional mobility over a two-week period, while the placebo group demonstrated no changes. Researchers suggest taurine improves calcium homeostasis, which aids cardiovascular function, and has “an overall beneficial effect on the macrovascular system.”

The cardiovascular benefits of taurine are abundant and convincing. Multiple studies have shown taurine will lower blood pressure (it is particularly effective at preventing hypertension that is linked to insulin resistance and poor metabolic health).

Further, a recent study in the Journal of Biomedical Science found that taurine and magnesium levels along with body mass index and total cholesterol were most directly related to the lowest cardiovascular risk in a population of healthy Japanese.  Researchers suggest the combination of elevated taurine and magnesium stores support heart health in this population, and that the Japanese have higher levels of these nutrients due to the presence of fish in the diet.

Taurine Improves Fat Burning
Taurine helps the body metabolize fat, making it essential for energy production and a lean physique. But, it’s also necessary for many aspects of health because beneficial fats play a role in the health of every cell in the body.

Fat burning works like this: The nutrient carnitine is responsible for the transport of fats into the cells to be used for energy in the body. By raising the level of muscle carnitine, you support the fat burning process, but you also must have adequate taurine for this to happen.  Taurine plays a role in the initial phase of fat metabolism, while carnitine takes the fat into the cell to let your body burn it up.

Anti Aging

Taurine abundance decreases substantially with age. In people, taurine levels in 60-year-old individuals were only about one-third of those found in 5-year-olds. One animal study found that  taurine increased average lifespan by 12% in female mice and 10% in males. For the mice, that meant three to four extra months, equivalent to about seven or eight human years.  Taurine also enhanced the quality of life.  It  suppressed age-associated weight gain in female mice (even in “menopausal” mice), increased energy expenditure, increased bone mass, improved muscle endurance and strength, reduced depression-like and anxious behaviors, reduced insulin resistance, and promoted a younger-looking immune system, among other benefits.says.

  Diindolylmethane (DIM, in short) is the principal breakdown product of indole 3-carbinol (I3C), the phytochemical found in cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale, collards, mustard greens, radishes, watercress, and turnips. DIM, has been shown in scientifi­c studies to reduce the risk of prostate and other hormone-driven cancers by helping the body to make a better balance of the hormones. DIM promotes a more active metabolism of estrogen, so unmetabolized estrogen levels fall and the 2-hydroxy-estrogens increase. The 2-hydroxy-estrogens possess the unique ability to displace testosterone from SHGB and set it free. Therefore, the combined effect of DIM to reduce unmetabolized estrogen and increase 2-hydroxy-estrogens can reduce elevations in SHGB and allow for more free testosterone. Both of these changes help maintain and restore a youthful balance between estrogen and free testosterone. This balance is a key to a healthy and active metabolism.  DIM appears to be able to reduce prostate size in men with enlarged prostate. 

 Male Libido Tonic Tongkat Ali, also known as long jack, has been shown to support male hormonal balance (including testosterone levels), libido and performance, according to preliminary research. It has been traditionally used to enhance energy levels, endurance and stamina, and to reduce occasional mental fatigue.  

The health benefits of tongkat ali likely stem from various compounds found in the plant.

Specifically, tongkat ali contains flavonoids, alkaloids, and other compounds that act as antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds that fight cellular damage caused by molecules called free radicals. They may benefit your body in other ways as well

Zinc may do more than shorten your downtime the next time you catch a cold (1). The essential mineral plays an important role in many body processes, including protein synthesis, muscle growth, and wound healing. And for men, it may pack an additional perk. Studies suggest that, like a few other nutrients (including vitamin D, zinc may act as a testosterone boost in healthy men.

Worryingly, you may not be getting enough. Your body can’t produce zinc, and it can be tricky to get your recommended 11 daily milligrams from foods like oysters and red meat. 

Exactly how much zinc do you need, especially if you’re looking to increase testosterone? We’re glad you asked.

Research suggests it’s possible. 

In one clinical trial, 100 men with low zinc levels were given either a placebo or a zinc supplement daily for six weeks (2). At the end of the study, those in the zinc supplement group saw a significant increase in testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH), a hormone that triggers testosterone production in the testes.

In another study, published in the Journal of Exercise Physiology, researchers found that men who took a zinc/magnesium/vitamin B-6 blend for eight weeks saw an increase in free testosterone compared to the placebo group.

And in an early study published in the journal Nutrition, researchers found that older men who had a marginal zinc deficiency and were given a daily zinc supplement for six months were able to almost double levels of testosterone in their systems, going from a starting average of 8.3 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L) to an average of 16 nmol/L at the end of the trial (3).

In a study, published in the Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences, researchers found that zinc supplementation dramatically increased sexual performance and frequency in rats (4).

The benefit was again linked to testosterone production, with levels of the hormone increasing incrementally based on how much additional zinc the animals were given. You’re no rat of course, but the study’s authors have speculated that the finding will carry over to mankind as well. 

A growing body of research is also beginning to suggest that zinc supplements may also help treat erectile dysfunction. Some studies have found that, in men with zinc deficiencies, zinc supplementation restored erectile function, which was also associated with an increase in testosterone levels. (5).

Zinc may also help with your sex drive: Low testosterone are a libido-killer, so getting your levels to a healthy place can help with your bedroom mojo.  

Potentially boosting testosterone isn’t the only perk men may get from getting enough zinc. Here’s what else it can do:

Protein is key to bulking up but zinc helps build new muscle and repair damage to existing muscle.

In one recent study researchers warned that zinc deficiency could have serious consequences on health, particularly in athletes by affecting sports performance (6).

Meanwhile, in a report published by the National Federation of Professional Trainers, certified personal trainer and former competitive bodybuilder Cathleen Kronemer cautioned that sufficient zinc levels should be considered essential to help facilitate muscle-building.

“Zinc plays an essential role in growth. It aids in muscle protein synthesis, which affects sports performance,” says Ehsani. She explains, “A zinc deficiency can inhibit growth and may result in reduced growth hormone production or insulin-like growth factor. These hormones promote muscle growth and are released in the body after muscle strengthening exercises, such as weight lifting.” (7).

A growing body of research suggests that zinc may be important to fertility and virility.

Just how clear are the findings? In a review by Chinese researchers of 20 previously conducted studies on the link between zinc and male fertility, researchers concluded that men with infertility had significantly lower levels of zinc in their sperm than men who didn’t have fertility issues. When the infertile men took zinc supplements, semen volume, sperm motility, and the number of healthy sperm increased (8).

So if you want strong and abundant swimmers, according to this study at least, good levels of zinc in your system are a must.

Need another reason to load up on Z? In a separate study published in the journal Advances in Nutrition, Spanish researchers set out to examine which nutrients might have the greatest overall impact on improving fertility. Their not-so-surprising answer? Zinc of course, was one of them, concluding that zinc yields a host of different benefits ranging from increased sperm concentration to better overall sperm motility (9).

Zinc may also be helpful for improving performance between the sheets and fighting off sexual dysfunction. Italian researchers found that men who were given a dietary supplement containing folic acid, biotin, zinc, and the herb golden root (Rhodiola rosea) were not only able to improve their ejaculatory control, but were also less likely to experience premature ejaculation (10).

“Zinc has powerful antioxidant effects and can help to reduce the formation of free radicals,” says Ehsani.

“The fewer free radicals you have in your system—and the less inflammation you have overall as a result of their absence—the lower your risk for a host of different illnesses including cancer, heart disease, arthritis, and Alzheimer’s.” (11)

Because obese individuals tend to have lower zinc levels, there’s even speculation zinc may play a role in how little or how much you weigh and your ability to gain and lose unwanted weight (12).

  A detailed discussion can be found here

Estrogen and progesterone are the two major female hormones which affect many organ systems throughout a woman's life.  Estrogen is produced primarily by the ovaries, and to a lesser extent by the adrenal glands and fat tissue, as well as the placenta during pregnancy.  Estrogen circulates with the blood to all organs, while the actual effect on individual organs or tissues is determined by estrogen receptors (ERs).  There are 2 main types of ERs:

* Alpha receptors increase the affect of estrogen

* Beta receptors decrease the affect of estrogen

Estrogen is responsible for development and regulation of female reproductive tract as well as secondary features such as breasts, pubic hair, etc.  It is also important in helping maintain bone density, and blood clotting, and affects the skin, hair, mucous membranes and pelvic muscles.  

Estrogen levels vary with age and reproductive status- increasing during puberty and pregnancy and falling with menopause.  During the normal menstrual cycle, estrogen levels also peak near ovulation and drop again if pregnancy does not occur.  Abnormal levels of estrogen- either too high or too low- may have detrimental affects on the health of women.  Low estrogen levels result in fewer or infrequent periods, dry skin, brittle hair, mood swings, low sexual drive, difficulty  sleeping and night sweats.  High estrogen levels can increase the risk for certain cancers (breast, ovary, uterine, kidneys), and can contribute to female issues like fibroids, fibrocystic breast tissue, acne, weight gain (waist, hips, and thighs), and contribute to blood clotting and thyroid dysfunction.   For men, low estrogen can contribute to excess body fat and low sex drive, while increased estrogen levels can contribute to erectile dysfunction, infertility and development of breast tissue. 

Hormone Disruptors and Xenoestrogens

Chemicals that interfere with hormones and can mimic estrogen may be found in everyday items such as plastic bottles, metal food cans, food dye, detergents, pesticides, insecticides, parabens (used as a preservative in a range of products including toothpaste and makeup, shampoo and soft drinks), as well as cigarette smoke and exhaust fumes!  

Obesity

More adipose tissue leads to higher conversion of androgens to estrogen.  

Adrenal Dysfunction

Anything that affects adrenal function including stress, lack of sleep, blood sugar spikes, and crashes or surges in caffeine.   

Diet

Dairy products contain high level of estrogens.  Recycled water contains estrogens from the community.  High levels of refined carbohydrate  and low levels of fiber slows the elimination of estrogen and may cause blood sugar spikes, increased cortisol and adrenal function.  Excessive alcohol consumption, decreased protein, and lack of nutrients- especially B vitamins- will slow metabolism of estrogen in the liver. 

Gut Dysbiosis

Imbalance of our gut microbiome can increase beta glucuronidase which reactivates excreted estrogen, and causes it to be resorbed again. 

Genetic Predisposition, like poor methylation from MTHFR mutations can increase estrogen levels (or more on methylation and the importance of our gut microbiome).  More genetic variations are described here.

Estrogen levels are normally in balance with progesterone, which has different effects.  High levels of estrogen relative to progesterone is called estrogen dominance.  Pregnenolone is the precursor of Estrone (E1) and estradiol (E2) and which are two forms of estrogen which must first be hydroxylated (addition of one or more OH groups) to be activated.  They are then deactivated by methylation or sulfonation.  

Aromatization CYP19A1  

Variants can contribute to increased conversion of androgens to estrogen.  This is a member of the cytochrome P450 super family of enzymes.  CYP19A1 converts androgens to estradiol and estrone.  

Hydroxylation

CYP17A1  Cholesterol and progesterone are converted to pregnenolone which in turn is hydroxylated to DHEA by CPY17A1.  DHEA, in turn, is converted to androgens, which are converted to estrogen components (estradiol and estrone).  Estrogen must be hydroxylated to become the active form by one of several enzymes.  

CYP1A1 is one of the most favorable pathways because it converts estrogens (estradiol, estrone) to 2OH hydroxylated estrogens which are neutral or even beneficial. Alternatively, CYP1B1 converts estrogens to 4OH estrogens, or CYP3A4  converts to OH estrogens and then to estriol (E3). 

Methylation 

Methylation is a very important process to prevent the potentially harmful effects of estrogen, by rendering them inactive and preparing them for excretion. Estrogen is meythylated by the COMT co-enzyme, which also requires SAMe as the methyl donor.  Ellagic acid, found in blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, has been found to increase both COMT and CYP1A1 activity. 

Glutathione Transferase

The potent free radicals produced by 4OH estrogens are neutralized by the antioxidant glutathione, via the transferase enzymes GSTP1 and GSTM1.  These genes are highly variable (pleomorphic) and one or both genes may be absent. 

Sulphation

E1, E2 and their metabolites are also deactivated by conjugation via the sulphotransferase enzymes SULT1A1 and SULT1E1.  

Glucuronidation

This is another major pathway for estrogens to become more water soluble and ready for excretion.  UDP glucouronosyltransferase (UGT1A1) enables this, so estrogen is excreted through the biliary system into the small bowel for elimination. Gut dysbiosis of the microbome can cause excess beta glucouronidase, causing estrogen metabolites to become de-conjugated and resorbed back into the circulation. 

Genetic Variants

COMT breaks down the neurotransmitters dopamine, adrenaline and noradenaline by using a methyl group from SAMe enzyme for methylation and elimination.  It also converts active estrogen to less active estrogen by methylation.  The rs4633 SNP variant (TT homozygous) can result in 4 x lower COMT activity.  Poor methylation will further impede COMT activity.  

CYP17A1 variant (GA) can result in higher conversion of pregnenolone to androgens and elevated estrogens.  Diet and excess adipose tissue may also increase this enzyme.  Diet, exercise and cruciferous vegetables can improve this. 

CYP19A1 rs10046 (A) variant causes increased conversion of androgens to estrogens.