Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

 
Endocrine disruptors are toxins, chemicals and poisons, as well as naturally occurring compounds that interfere with the normal functioning of the endocrine system (hormonal system) and its hormones. Since the endocrine system regulates hormonal communication throughout the body, it is important to be aware of endocrine saboteurs, so to prevent unnecessary exposure. With the abiliity to turn on, shut off, or alter signals that our hormones are responsible for carrying, the end result is that endocrine disruptors can affect the normal functioning of tissues and organs in the body.

Every single human being on this earth, regardless of age, race, or financial status is at risk of experiencing endocrine disruption. It is virtually impossible to prevent 100% exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals since they are present everywhere. They can be found in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and in the products we consume.

Being so critical to the regulation of various functions in the body, the endocrine system and its functionality is important to maintain throughout life. The endocrine glands are responsible for communicating vital information throughout the body to organs, tissues and cells so that we can achieve homeostasis. This includes the regulation of our growth, immunity, sexual reproduction, the brain and its neurological pathways, 

Awareness begins getting educated on what and where endocrine disrupting chemicals are found. We must then make the appropriate lifestyle adjustments, alongside eating a well balanced, healthy diet , reducing unnecessary stress, increasing physical activity, and getting quality sleep.

Common endocrine disruptors are found in everyday consumable products:

Canned food and beverages
Plastic bottles, BPA plastic and plastic containers
Flame retardants typically found in mass marketed furniture
Detergents
Paper receipts and money
Toys
Pharmaceuticals
Pesticides
Cosmetics
Phthalates

How do endocrine disruptors affect the human body?

How endocrine disruptors contribute to the destruction of our hormonal system.

• Some chemicals can mimic a natural hormone. By doing so, it fools the body into over-responding to a stimulus. 
• Some endocrine disruptors can modify the timing that certain hormones are released. This could mean a hormone is released when it is unnecessary.
• There are endocrine disrupting chemicals that block the effects of a hormone from certain receptors.
• Some endocrine disrupting agents stimulate or inhibit the endocrine system. These end up causing an overproduction or underproduction of hormones.
• Endocrine disruptors can alter how various organs function.
• They may change the secretion rate of hormones, altering how much a particular hormone gets secreted, and then modifying the outcome of the hormone’s messaging.

Health Related Issues 

We are exposed to these endocrine disrupting agents daily and receive them from multiple sources. In 2013, the World Health Organisation (WHO) released a report, co-produced with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). This report outlined the health-related issues that have been found directly attributable to exposure to these endocrine disrupting chemicals, including:

• ADHD and Autism
• Thyroid Cancer
• Disturbances in the immune system development and function
• Developmental and reproductive malformations such as non-descended testes in that of young males
• Disruption of a growing child’s nervous system development

Natural Migraine Relief 

Published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, the study compares melatonin, a naturally secreted hormone-like substance, to amitriptyline, the medication typically prescribed for migraine prevention. The study puts this natural compound to the test, investigating migraine relief with melatonin supplementation, comparing both effectiveness and side effects against amitriptyline. For those who suffer the misery of “Migraine disorder”, which is about 12-20% of the world’s population, this neurological condition severely reduces quality of life by producing debilitating pain that often does not subside – even with drug treatment. Half of all patient’s seeking medical support for their migraine disorder, end up giving up the search for relief due to the harsh side effects provided by the use of amitriptyline. The side effects cause both physical and psychiatric disorders, which when compared to a migraine headache, are far worse for the patient and not worth the risk.
Side effects of Amitriptyline Use Include:

• Dizziness
• Chest pain
• Shoulder pain
• Jaw pain
• Nausea
• Fluttering in the chest
• Pounding heart
• Confusion
• Hallucinations
• Severe constipation
• Seizures
• Painful urination
• Sudden weakness
• Fever
• Unusual bleeding
• Sore throat
• Easy bruising
• Diarrhea
• Shifts in appetite
• Changes in weight
• Development of rashes
• Impotence
• Itching
• Decrease in libido

Details about the study:

• Male and Female subjects between 18-65 years
• Chronic migraine sufferers who experience 2-8 migraines per month.
• 196 participants
• After a 4-week baseline phase, the participants were randomised to placebo, amitriptyline 25 mg or melatonin 3 mg.
• 178 participants took medication, and the researchers did a follow up within three months.
• The outcome was measured by how many migraine headaches were experienced per month. Noted was the migraine intensity, the responder rate, the duration of each migraine and analgesic use. Tolerability was also recorded between groups.

Summary of Results:
Reduction in headache frequency: Melatonin 2.7 days
Reduction in headache frequency: Amitriptyline = 2.2 days
Reduction in headache frequency: Placebo= 1.1 days
Melatonin was shown to reduce headache frequency quite significantly in comparison to the placebo, but not with amitriptyline. Melatonin was considered to be a far superior treatment to placebo due to the percentage of patients who experienced 50%+ reduction in migraines. Melatonin was also found to be much safer and more tolerable treatment than the amitriptyline. Those who were participants within the melatonin study group were seen to experience weight loss. Those taking the placebo, as well as the amitriptyline group, had the opposite effect concerning weight, whereby a slight gain was noted during the research period.
The conclusion by the authors: Migraine Relief with Melatonin Supplementation is Preferred
Taking 3mg melatonin offers patients a much better migraine relief than the placebo and is more tolerable than amitriptyline. Melatonin 3mg has been shown to be as effective as amitriptyline 25mg in offering relief to patients suffering from migraine headaches. Migraine headaches and melatonin – the winning combination. Sufferers end up discontinuing amitriptyline and seek to use more natural alternatives, due to the long list of negative side effects experienced from amitriptyline. A notable observation as a result of the study also was that the melatonin-treated participants experienced significant weight loss in comparison to those using the drug amitriptyline, which experienced a weight gain. The study did explain that in some patients, melatonin could have contraindications, such as in those taking opioids or who were actively overusing opioids. There is a caution to these individuals, for melatonin has been known to potentiate opioid analgesia. There are also cautions for patients who are diabetic or have hypertension as melatonin may decrease blood pressure and glucose levels, and therefore monitoring is advised. Natural remedies like Melatonin are getting the respect they deserve and studies like this one, reveal what alternatives we have available that are just as effective with far fewer side effects than traditional migraine medication. The study recommends further analysis into the best and most effective dosage of melatonin alongside its effect in combination with other medications.

How and What Affect Male Testosterone Levels?

Most of us know that it is the testosterone in men that grants a man his male characteristics. It is the hormone that makes men virile. Some of us also realise that with age, these hormone levels decrease, and sadly a man’s virility goes with it.

1. DHEA

Dehydroepiandrosterone is an endogenous hormone produced from cholesterol by the adrenal glands. DHEA is a precursor to oestrogen and androgen (the male and female sex hormones).
 

2. AROMATASE

Aromatase is an enzyme that enables the body to convert testosterone into oestrogen by being a catalyst for this conversion. Oestrogen producing cells contain aromatase and are found in the adrenal glands, the testicles, the ovaries, adipose (fatty) tissue and the brain.
 

3. OBESITY

Even men under the age of 40 can have significantly reduced testosterone if they are obese. Increased belly fat suppresses the action of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the testes. This suppression can dramatically decrease circulating testosterone levels (Mah and Wittert 2010). There is evidence that increased aromatase levels are a direct result of excess belly fat (Kalyani and Dobs 2007).
 

4. SHBG.

These initials stand for ‘Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin’. The production of SHBG is mainly in the liver. However, the brain, uterus, testes and placenta can also create it. When the SHGB is produced in the testes, it is called an androgen-binding protein. The testosterone that circulates in the bloodstream is bound to SHGB (60%) or albumin (38%). Only about 2% of testosterone is unbound, or “free”. (Morales et al. 2010). SHGB levels influence the bioavailability of testosterone because testosterone binds more tightly to SHGB than it does albumin-bound testosterone. (Morales et al. 2010).
 

6. AGEING

The levels of aromatase and SHBG rise when men age. This result is the levels of oestrogen rise and the testosterone declines. When this occurs, the levels of free testosterone decreases dramatically. When levels of free testosterone drop the result is sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass), (Lapauw et al. 2008). Sarcopenia is degenerative and therefore illustrates the importance of testosterone levels in men to be at their optimum.
 

7. THE LIVER

Keeping the liver functioning at its optimal level is also of great importance as the liver removes excess oestrogen and SHGB from the body. When there is a decrease in liver function, this causes a hormonal imbalance, which is detrimental to one’s health. To prevent further degradation that occurs with andropause, men should have regular check-ups with their GP to make sure that their liver function is optimal.