This 1998 study evaluated the impact of vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) on sex hormone levels in 57 morbidly obese patients (19 men and 38 premenopausal women) over a 12-month period. In men, significant hormonal changes included decreased estradiol and increased levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), total testosterone, and sex hormone-binding
This 2017 review by McEwen and Milner examines how sex hormones, including estrogens, androgens, and progestogens, influence brain structure, function, and behavior across the lifespan. The authors highlight that sex hormone receptors are distributed throughout the brain, not limited to reproductive regions, and are located in both nuclear and membrane-associated
This observational study analyzed how smoking, age, relative weight, and dietary intake influence serum levels of adrenal steroids, sex hormones, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in 1,241 middle-aged U.S. men. Results showed that smokers had significantly higher levels of DHEA (18%), DHEAS (13%), cortisol (5%), androstenedione (33%), testosterone (9%), DHT
This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of six-month oral dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation (50 mg/day) on hormonal levels, adrenal function, and menopausal symptoms in early and late postmenopausal women. The study found significant increases in circulating androgens, estrogens, and beta-endorphins, along with decreased cortisol and gonadotropins. Participants experienced improved menopausal
This study explores the role of progesterone and related compounds in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), analyzing their potential impact on the disease’s development and treatment. HCC is more prevalent in men than women, suggesting a role for sex hormones in its pathogenesis. The study reviews how progesterone and synthetic progestins, such
This study, published in Menopause in 2010 (PMID: 20632462), investigated the relationship between sex hormone levels and inflammatory markers in postmenopausal women, both undergoing hormone therapy and not. Findings indicate that while hormone therapy can reduce vascular inflammation, oral estradiol therapy raises C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of generalized inflammation.
