very nice of how glucocorticoids and progesterone interact with the immune system. This review article discusses the current understanding of how hormones can contribute to autoimmune disease states through inflammation.
Areas of high exposure of Dioxin in Vietnam found to have associated elevated salivary cortisol, cortisone, and DHEA. Now, this can only be seen as an association, but they did find these elevations only in the "hot spots" and not in low exposure areas.
This article, abstract only, looks at the cause of low Testosterone. It is well known that low T increases CAD in men. But what causes the low T? Is the "normal" decline in testosterone actually normal or a product of accumulative dysfunction.
Many pesticides function as androgen receptor antagonists. Others as Xenoestrogens. Estrogen-like toxins and androgen receptor antagonists...a potent cocktail to disrupt male androgen signaling.
In obese men, low T is the result of increased estradiol formation from aromatase activity. Low SHBG is no enough to offset the decrease in free T levels.
Bisphenol A downgregulates ER-beta in male prostate. This would increase pro-inlfmmatory/growth through ER-alpha theoretically and has implications in prostate health.
New study shows that obese boys/young men pre and post puberty have up to 50% lower testosterone levels than comparative normal BMI counterparts. Also of note, estradiol levels were not associated with the low testosterone levels.
Tamoxifen and more importantly, flaxseed increases endogenous IL-1Ra that is a known inhibitor of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1alpha and IL-1beta. These pro-inflammatory cytokines are associated with breast cancer. Conclusion: diet modification can effect inflammatory cytokines associated with breast cancer. This should be explored as true preventative therapies for women.
This study also found a positive association with estradiol and IL-1Beta in breast tissue and SC fat; inversely associated with IL-Ra in the breast.
