Cenegenics Complete Guide to Healthy Aging - (Page 34) Testosterone also aids bone growth and anabolic functions, as well as augmenting protein synthesis. The fact men produce more testosterone than women is evidenced by increased bone and muscle mass. Gonadotropic hormones, released from the pituitary gland, impact testosterone and sperm production. Stimulating hormones become less effective as we age, making supplementation more significant with passing years. Testosterone also helps prevent unwanted body fat, heart disease and cognitive decline. Without it, women have a 0% chance of experiencing a pathological hip or vertebra fracture. Especially frightening is that 0% of hip fracture patients die within a year of their injury. On the male side, testosterone production is initiated by the pituitary gland, deep within the brain. The gland secretes luteinizing hormone (LH), which stimulates Leydig cells in the testicles to produce testosterone. Having low testosterone levels—with its subsequent health and emotional impact—can become a valid concern for some men. According to recent studies, low testosterone levels continue to be associated with increased mortality risk (Archives of Internal Medicine August 00; Circulation August 00; Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism October 00). Here are some ways that happens: • Estrogen: Men need a certain amount of estrogen. But if a male body converts more testosterone to estrogen than required, the levels become too high. Consequently, the estrogen interferes with whatever free testosterone exists and both hormones compete for receptor sites. In these cases, there are ways of blocking the estrogen— problem easily solved. A similar—but different—story unfolds for men in general. Through enzymatic action, testosterone can convert to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estrogen. The enzyme -alpha reductase (found in high concentrations in the prostate gland and skin) converts testosterone into DHT. Aromatase (found in skin, brain, fat and bone) transforms the hormone into estrogen (estradiol). As years pass, increasingly more testosterone converts to estradiol, leading to prostate cancer, heart disease and stroke. • Sex hormone binding globulin: Only about % of testosterone is free—but a critical amount of that must be unencumbered for full effectiveness. As men age, sex hormone binding globulins (SHGB) increase, which compete with estrogen and cause a decrease in free testosterone. • Obesity: Estrogen is stored in fat—and fat cells have sizeable amounts of that enzyme discussed earlier, aromatase, which transforms converted testosterone into estrogen. These high levels of estrogen compete for receptor sites. Obesity presents more problems with potential cancer, heart disease and diabetes concerns as well as the emotional ramifications of having a demasculinizing body. It should be noted that excessive alcohol use, specific drug interactions and a zinc deficiency also can promote aromatization and subsequent high estrogen levels. • Diminished Leydig cells: Testosterone production, created via Leydig cells in the testicles, usually peaks in males in the late teens. Men have an estimated 00 million Leydig cells at birth, but that number declines by million annually, after they reach 0 years old. Aging enters the picture, diminishing the number of these testosterone-producing cells. III. the science Behind Cenegenics Women, men & testosterone. In the female, testosterone is produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands. If a woman is thrown into surgical menopause (by having her ovaries removed), she abruptly loses 0% of her natural testosterone—along with 80% of her natural estrogens. Ebbing estradiol and progesterone levels after entering menopause are compounded by falling testosterone and thyroid hormone. A declining hormonal environment is bound to spark bodily changes: a flux in metabolism, altered libido, effects on breasts, vagina, bones, blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, cardiovascular system, skin, mental acuity and energy levels. Women, like men, need adequate testosterone for peak mental acuity, healthy bone density and muscle tissue. 3 WWW.CENEGENICS.COM iii. th e s CienCe B ehind Cen egeniCs http://WWW.CENEGENICS.COM
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