Naturopathicfamilypractice.ca
Rocky Mountain Analytical
Changing lives, one test at a time
Information for Patients
Common Hormone Conditions
About Hor
Interactions between the four hormones of the male
panel (see right) are fundamental to health, which means
that hormone imbalance may have a negative effect on
• helps maintain muscle mass
health. The following are examples of how hormone
and bone, improves sense of
imbalance can affect health:
well-being, helps control blood
sugar, is needed for heart
Bone Loss
health, and improves sex drive.
Testosterone and estradiol help build bone, while high cortisol tends to break
• is responsible for male sex
down bone. High cortisol is of particular concern because it breaks down bone
characteristics like facial and
and interferes with the bone-building action of testosterone.
body hair growth, deepening of
voice, and development of male
sex organs.
Testosterone receptors are plentiful in the brain, so a lack of testosterone may
result in decreased arousal response. Testosterone is also needed for muscle
Estrogens
contraction, so low testosterone may result in poor erection quality. Low
testosterone may also lead to increased ‘wait' times between erections.
estradiol, estrone, estriol• the testes produce
Memory Loss
approximately 20% of a man's
Because testosterone receptors are abundant in the brain, low testosterone
estradiol, while the rest is
levels often affect memory.
converted from testosterone via
Apathy, Depression, Grumpiness
the enzyme aromatase (found
Our laboratory data shows that approximately 3/5 of men with self-reported
in fat cells).
symptoms including aggression, apathy, depression, irritability and an inability
• estrogens can compete with
to cope have at least one out-of-range hormone result. This is not proof that
testosterone for receptor sites,
restoring hormone balance will lessen these mood symptoms, but many men
which means that having too
experience some relief from mood disorders when hormone balance is restored.
much estrogen may reduce the
effect of testosterone.
Breast Enlargement
Men who carry extra weight around the middle have more of the enzyme
aromatase, which converts testosterone to estrogen. Increased estrogen can
lead to breast enlargement.
• is the major stress hormone
released by the adrenal glands.
Weight Gain
• high or low cortisol levels
High levels of the stress hormone cortisol can cause unstable blood sugar levels
may be an indication of poor
and may increase sugar cravings.
adrenal function.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Most men over the age of 60 have signs of prostate enlargement, also known
as BPH. Some researchers have suggested that low testosterone and/or high
• is the storage form of the
estradiol may be contributing factors in prostate enlargement.
adrenal hormone DHEA,
used to make estrogens and
Why Test Hormones in Saliva?
• DHEA and cortisol have
opposite effects on immune
function and blood glucose
• Saliva hormone testing is excellent at uncovering hormone imbalance.
• Saliva measures hormone that actually made it into tissue, because
hormones pass through saliva gland tissue before getting into saliva
• Blood measures hormones that might eventually get to tissue. • Saliva collection is painless and easy to do at home. Blood collection
requires a trip to the laboratory, and some hormones cannot be tested in
blood (e.g. estriol).
• The stress of a needle puncture for blood collection tends to raise cortisol
levels. Saliva collection is not known to raise cortisol levels.
Rocky Mountain Analytical
Version Aug, 2012
Restoring Male Hormone Balance
Good health has a lot to do
with maintaining balance:
Low testosterone levels do not necessarily mean you need to supplement with
the right balance of work
testosterone. Your healthcare professional may want to investigate options
and play, the right balance of
like zinc supplementation, which can slow the conversion of testosterone
nutrients in the diet, and the
into estradiol. If these or other interventions do not relieve low testosterone
right balance of hormones.
symptoms, likely only then will your healthcare professional consider
supplementing with testosterone.
Hormone imbalance may
be a result of illness, or may
High testosterone is general y a consequence of supplementing with too much
produce symptoms and
testosterone. Although natural y high levels are rarely a problem, significantly
biochemical changes that
elevated testosterone may require a referral to a medical specialist.
eventually lead to illness. Rocky Mountain Analytical
is committed to offering
Low estrogen levels are not usual y a problem for men. However, if estrogen
laboratory tests that identify
levels are low and symptoms of low estrogen are present, there are some
hormone imbalances and
supplements that may help. For example, boron may help boost estrogen
other conditions - so they
production, and plant estrogens and progesterone may relieve symptoms of
can be corrected before
low estrogen.
disease develops!
High estrogen levels in men general y occur as a result of conversion from
testosterone. An enzyme cal ed aromatase causes testosterone to be changed
into estradiol. Aromatase lives in the fat cel s, so men who carry extra weight
around the middle tend to have more cortisol and consequently make more
Rocky Mountain Analytical
estradiol. Cortisol increases the activity of the aromatase enzyme, so high
was founded in 2002 with
cortisol levels can also lead more testosterone to be converted into estradiol.
a mission to offer tests that
Thus, weight loss and stress reduction are important steps in restoring the
focus on early identification
balance of hormones.
and prevention of disease.
Rocky Mountain Analytical
Low cortisol in the morning may be indicative of adrenal issues, which may
is an accredited medical
require further testing or interventions by your healthcare professional.
laboratory located in Calgary,
Alberta. Accreditation means
High cortisol levels are associated with numerous symptoms and conditions
tests performed by Rocky
including: bone loss, high blood pressure, insulin resistance and diabetes,
Mountain Analytical are
weight gain, memory impairment and immune system suppression. High
regularly reviewed for quality,
cortisol levels also interfere with the action of other hormones. Therefore, when
accuracy and reproducibility
cortisol levels are high, the first step in restoring hormone balance should be
by the College of Physicians &
to reduce high cortisol levels. Your healthcare professional may recommend
Surgeons of Alberta.
lifestyle changes as well as supplements to help address high cortisol levels.
Ask your healthcare
professional whether a test is
right for you.
Low DHEAs symptoms are not well-defined although low DHEAs is often
associated with chronic illness. Some men benefit from supplementing with
DHEA to bring saliva hormone levels back within range.
High DHEAs may be a consequence of supplementing with too much DHEA,
in which case your health care provider may recommend reducing the dose.
Information is for educational purposes
only. It is not meant as medical advice
and any treatment decisions should be
More information on male hormone balance can be found in Chapter 9 of the
made with the knowledge or consent of
book "You've Hit Menopause: Now What?" Visit www.rmalab.com to learn
your healthcare professional.
more about this book and how you can get a free copy.
Rocky Mountain Analytical
Changing lives, one test at a time
www.rmalab.com [email protected] 403.241.4513
an accredited medical laboratory
Source: http://www.naturopathicfamilypractice.ca/uploads/5/3/2/0/5320822/pt-handout-male-sept5-2012_web.pdf
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