Biohackers believe that hormones prolong youth. What does science say?

Hormones are the best friends of biohacers. For example, entrepreneur Sergei Faga, the most famous Russian biohaker, horma hormone somatropin growth hormone, drinks microdes of thyroid hormones and blocks the estrogen receptors to “increase testosterone production”. Is it safe? The endocrinologist, author of the Telegram channel "Endonovosti" Evdokia Tsidokia Tsidokia, told our friends from the publication Reminder .

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Where are hormones and "hormonal malfunctions" from where

The human body is a huge plant with billions of cells that produce hormones. Each hormone secreted does not work in one position - it plays different roles in different parts of the body. Take insulin for example: it increases the penetration of glucose into cells, in the liver and muscles stimulates the formation of glycogen from glucose, enhances the synthesis of fats and proteins, promotes the transport of potassium ions into cells, suppresses the activity of enzymes that break down glycogen and fats, and so on. That is why hormonal self -medication is so dangerous - the consequences can affect a large number of systems and organs.

The process of hormonal regulation can be called hormonal swing, on them we gently sway most of our lives. The secretion of hormones in the blood has peaks and downs that are repeated from day to day with small variations. All because the physiological processes in the human body are synchronized with the rotation of the Earth around its axis - this is called circus rhythms. For example, in the morning, a healthy person has a peak in the production of glucocorticosteroid cortisol - this helps to wake up, cheer up and start a new day. By evening, the production of cortisol is reduced - it's time to relax and prepare for sleep. A similar system of hormonal regulation is called impulse secretion. Such “hormonal swings” is a dynamic self -regulating system, and if everything is in order, then hormones are produced as much as the body needs.

But what if hormones are not produced enough or excessively? There may be two reasons.

Perhaps somewhere in the endocrine system there was a “breakdown”-and then an endocrine disease develops. But in addition to diseases, there are some conditions in which the number of hormones also changes. One of them is aging, a process that happens with all of us constantly, from the moment of birth. The aging begins to influence hormones almost immediately after the exit of puberty: after a period of adolescent “hormonal surge” and a relatively short stabilization, the secretion of hormones gradually begins to decline. The synthesis of sex hormones, growth hormone and melatonin falls especially actively with age. In this regard, a new medical direction has appeared-anti-Eiga-mediticin, in the arsenal of which, among other things, there is hormonal therapy.

Hormonal therapy in general is a reception of synthetic hormones for the treatment or prevention of any diseases, as well as, for example, for contraception. In particular, hormone therapy can be used when the body's own cells do not produce enough hormones - and their lack must be replenished by taking drugs.

Hormones are substances that are produced in the endocrine glands, or iron secretion glands. The endocrine glands include the thyroid and pancreas, adrenal glands, and the sex glands-testicles or ovaries, parathyroid glands, as well as certain zones in the brain-epiphyse and hypothalamic-pituitary complex.

But that's not all. Numerous specialized cells producing hormones are distributed throughout the body - apudocytes. They capture amino acids and produce some hormones from them - in particular, adrenaline, norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. Now more than 60 types of such cells are identified, they are located in various organs and tissues-including in the gastrointestinal tract, urinary and respiratory systems, skin and adipose tissue.

How hormones began to be used to extend youth

The ideas of prolonging life and youth with the help of hormones - namely the transplantation of the sex glands - appeared at the dawn of the development of endocrinology as a science.

At first, the German physiologist Adolf Bertold noticed in 1849 that when transplanting the castrated rooster into the abdominal cavity of the other rooster, the first, all the external consequences of castration disappear: the missing lush comb and the beard are restored, the drooping fan of tail feathers (then, as usually the castrated rooster, externally becomes more and more similar to the chicken).

Forty-year, in 1889, at a meeting of the Paris Biological Society, a professor of experimental biology, Charles Brown Secretary, made a stunning message about the experiments conducted on himself. A seventy -two -year -old scientist introduced heavits from the seed glands of animals - and found that they have an “anti -aging” effect on the aging organism. He had a feeling of extraordinary vigor, increased performance, muscle strength and libido. The Brown Secretary Semyon called the Elixir of Youth. The press raised a huge noise around this event, in pharmacies they began to sell the Brown-Sekarovsky liquid, behind which there were lines from thirsty rejuvenation. Alas, Brown Soverelation could not save the world of old age: the rejuvenating effect was short-term, and after two to three months, age-related changes even progressed. Nevertheless, this was the first step towards modern anti-aege medicin and hormonal therapy.

The anti-Eiga-mediticin, or medicine of active longevity, survived its new birth relatively recently . In 1993, Osteopaths Robert M. Goldman and Ronald Cluts founded the American Academy of Anti-Age Medicine, certifying specialists in the field of active longevity. Anti -aging medicine seeks to achieve and maintain good health conditions regardless of chronological age. It sounds great, isn't it?

After all, if natural aging mechanisms can lead to [ 1 , 2 ] to the development of diseases (cardiovascular, oncological, bone-articular, neurodegenerative and diabetes), would it be correct and the achievements of its science-aging-to prevent? This, of course, is so.

But it is worth noting that far from all the ideas of the American Academy of Anti-Age Medicines are consistent with the provisions of evidence-based medicine: in particular, attempts to use the growth hormone, a number of antioxidants, as well as sex hormones without taking into account indications and contraindications are controversial and unsafe. The American Medical Association does not recognize this organization at all. Scientists who have been engaged in aging issues have already criticized anti-Eiga-medicines, contrasting it with gerontology-science that studies the biological, social and psychological aspects of human aging, its causes and ways to combat it. That is, doing everything the same, but using only methods with proven scientific efficiency and safety.

We focus on those methods of anti-aging hormonal therapy, which are at the intersection of anti-alignment and gerontology-and have a evidence base.

What is the difference between a hormonal drug synthesized in the laboratory, from the hormone that our body produces?

Most hormones used in medical practice differ from those that synthesize our body, or endogenous hormones.

The difference most often is that in an artificially synthesized drug there are additional molecules that can:

• renew the effect of the drug compared to endogenous hormone, thereby lengthening the gap between its intake/injections for greater human comfort;
• accelerate/enhance the effect of the drug compared to endogenous hormone, thereby reducing the expectation of the effect, reducing the dose necessary to achieve the desired effect;
• increase the selectivity of the drug, thereby reducing the likelihood of side effects.

In addition, medicines containing hormones have excipients that provide a certain delivery method: subcutaneous injections, gels, creams, and patchings.

In some cases, hormonal drugs can even have an advantage compared to hormones of our body. In particular, the oral contraceptives containing darminone - the synthetic analogue of the progesterone hormone - are used in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome, which can develop against the background of natural vibrations of estrogen and progesterone in the body.

Menopausal hormonal therapy (MGT)

Estrogens and progestogens, the so -called “female” sex hormones, have all people, just women have more their content in the body than men. The level of sex hormones ranges throughout a person’s life. Factors that can influence the level of female sex hormones include age, the phase of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, stress, taking drugs, the surrounding environment and menopause.

“Female” sex hormones are involved in puberty and sexual development, protective inflammatory reactions of the body, affect the possibility of pregnant, sexual desire, regulate the growth of bones and muscles, cholesterol levels, fat distribution in the body, and stimulate hair growth.

After the peak of the secretion of sex hormones in puberty - from 8-10 to 13-15 years - the level of “female” hormones stabilizes, the plateau occurs. Then, in Perimenopausa - 41–51 years - the secretion of estrogens and progesterone begins to decline. A sharp decrease occurs in menopause and postmenopause (45–65 years), and the level remains stably low after 65 years.

If menstruation ceases under the age of 40, they talk about premature menopause, up to 45 - about the early. Unfortunately, some serious prevention of early menopause does not exist. After all, one of its reasons is a genetic predisposition: if the woman’s mother and grandmother had an early menopause, then most likely she will also have her. But now information appears that some changes in the nutrition can slightly delay the onset of menopause: high use of fat fish - by 3.3 years, legumes - for about a year. But the abuse of refined paste and rice, on the contrary, can bring menopause for 1.5 years.

What symptoms will help to suspect that your level of “female” sex hormones has decreased?

• You noticed a violation of the menstrual cycle.
• You have a tide of heat, interspersed with chills, and severe sweating.
• You suffer from mood swings, depression appeared.
• The pains in the joints and muscles appeared or intensified.
• You noticed dry vagina and pain or discomfort when having sex.
• You have decreased libido.
• You have become more frequent of urinary infections, such as cystitis.

The beginning of the MGT should be fitted into the "therapeutic window" - no more than 10 years since the end of menstruation. Therefore, it is worth carefully tracking your cycle-and when (as a rule, over the age of 40) it becomes very irregular or menstruation does not come for more than six months, it makes sense to contact a gynecologist-endocrinologist to confirm the beginning of menopause. To do this, a hormonal blood test is given - on estradiol and follicle -stimulating hormone. Now on sale there are also express tests for menopause, similar to express tests for pregnancy.

The low level of estrogen is a serious health risk. It causes the loss of the mineral density of bone tissue - this can lead to osteoporosis and bone fractures, including the femoral neck, which can disable the woman. Menopausal hormonal changes can also increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

However, the woman’s life does not stop with the end of the reproductive period. Due to the increase in life expectancy, a whole third of the life of a modern woman falls on menopause. And if menopause worsens the quality of this life, then menopausal hormonal therapy (MGT) is an output.

Possible bonuses of correctly selected MGT:

• reduction in the risk of myocardial infarction, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis prevention;
• reduction in the risk of premature death;
• weakening of menogenital manifestations of menogenital manifestations;
• prevention of osteoporotic fractures;
• remission of depression ;
• reduction in the risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia;
• improving the quality of night sleep;
• improving the quality of sexual life;
• regression of skin aging;
• Reducing of bone-articular pain, improvement of the flexibility of joints and elasticity of the ligaments.

And at the expense of all of the above - a significant improvement in the quality of life and an increase in its duration.

Against the background of some drugs used for MGT, the risks of endometrial cancer and mammary glands may increase. Therefore, it is important to take hormonal therapy only according to indications, select drugs with a doctor - and receive a minimum effective dose of hormones. And while you are taking MGT, once a year to visit a doctor for examination. In order for the risks to be minimal, therapy should become part of a common strategy that includes a healthy diet - less red and treated meat, sweets, more fish - at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week, rejection of smoking and alcohol consumption.

Not only women, but also men may have a lack of progesterone and estrogens.

The deficiency of estrogens in the male body is still poorly studied and, as a rule, is associated with certain genetic "breakdowns". At present, estrogens are not prescribed for men, with the exception of the treatment of rare diseases , such as congenital estrogen deficiency.

The disadvantage of progesterone in men most often develops during andropauza - this is an analogue of menopause in men. This is due to the fact that the ratio of testosterone and estrogen changes-and because of this, the synthesis of progesterone is blocked. In this case, the issue of hormonal therapy with testosterone is resolved.

Andropausal hormonal therapy (AGT)

Testosterone belongs to a group of hormones that everyone has, but in men they are produced in more quantities-because of this they are called androgen, or “male” sex hormones.

Androgen has many functions: they stimulate metabolism, cell renewal, muscle growth, increase the mineral density of bones. They also affect more obvious things: the size of the external genitalia (both penis and testicles, and, for example, clitoris), sperm synthesis, voice timbre, hair growth on the face and in certain areas of the body. In addition, these hormones affect the formation of a conditionally masculine constitution of the body - it is a larger length of the arms in relation to the length of the legs, a wider chest and a narrow pelvis, a characteristic distribution of fat and muscles.

During puberty in boys, the level of testosterone increases significantly, and after thirty years begins to gradually (by 1-2% per year) decline. In 55–60 years, it is already 20–25% less, and the so -called Andropauz occurs - from that moment, low testosterone is considered the norm. True, unlike women in postmenopause, the maturation of germ cells in men after andropause does not stop.

The lack of testosterone in men is called the term "hypogonadism." At working age, it occurs, according to various sources, with a frequency of 8.6 to 38.7%. The reasons can be very different - for example, the work of Leydig cells synthesizing this hormone can be disturbed during injury, infection, exposure to irradiation or chemotherapy, with testicles tumors, and some other diseases. There are diseases and medicines that violate the functioning of a hypothalamus or pituitary gland, which, in turn, cease to stimulate the production of androgens.

A man’s deficiency in a man can slightly resemble a state of menopause.

How to suspect a deficiency of testosterone?

• The amount of hair on the body and face decreases.
• You begin to lose muscle mass.
• Libido decreases, erectile dysfunction may appear.
• The number of spermatozoa is reduced, and infertility may develop in this regard.
• Breasts are increased according to the "female" type.
• The ebbs appear.
• You become irritable, easily lose concentration, you can even fall into depression.

If you have similar symptoms, you can take a blood test for a common testosterone and contact an endocrinologist. Regularly checking the level of testosterone “just in case” is not required.

As such, the prevention of age -related hypogonadism does not exist, but it can be influenced by one risk factor - the fat mass. In adipose tissue, testosterone turns into estrogens, respectively, more adipose tissue - more estrogen and less testosterone. To prevent this from happening, it makes sense to maintain a stable body weight within a healthy BMI.

Andropauza, or age -related hypogonadism, is considered a natural process, but it can affect the quality of life. Поэтому сейчас активно обсуждается гормональная терапия возрастных изменений у мужчин. Задумываться о ней российским мужчинам имеет смысл примерно в 50–55 лет — конечно, если симптомы гипогонадизма не начали появляться в более раннем возрасте.

Андропаузальная гормональная терапия — это не всегда безопасно: тестостерон не должны получать, например, пациенты с некоторыми заболеваниями простаты, сердечной недостаточностью и обструктивным апноэ сна. В 2013–2014 годах сообщили о связи между такой терапией и увеличением числа случаев инфаркта миокарда и инсульта, и FDA выпустило предостерегающий бюллетень .

Возможные бонусы правильно подобранной АГТ:

• повышение либидо, более частые и длительные эрекции;
• увеличение мышечной массы и силы;
• уменьшение объема жировой ткани;
• нормализация артериального давления и показателей холестерина;
• усиление бодрости .

У женщин тоже бывает дефицит тестостерона, например, при заболеваниях гипофиза или надпочечников. При этом отмечается снижение либидо, сухость влагалища, нарушения внимания или даже депрессия. Также может развиться остеопороз и нарушения менструального цикла. Официальное показание к назначению тестостерона у женщин — это гипоактивное расстройство полового влечения, при котором у женщины снижается интерес к сексу.

Проводились исследования , которые показали неплохую эффективность местного применения тестостерона при вульвовагинальной атрофии в менопаузе, но пока такое лечение не является стандартным.

Мелатонин: ключ к продолжительной жизни?

Мелатонин, так называемый «гормон сна», не просто помогает нам уснуть — это важный для организма гормон, который обладает особыми антиоксидантными свойствами. У человека секреция мелатонина происходит как в апудоцитах по всему организму, так и в мозге, в специальной эндокринной железе — эпифизе.

Синтез мелатонина контролируется солнечным светом. Именно он является тем веществом, которое синхронизирует биологические день и ночь с днем и ночью окружающей нас среды — хронобиотиком.

Выработка мелатонина происходит исключительно в темное время суток. При искусственном освещении в ночное время синтез мелатонина тормозится. У вас может нарушиться выработка мелатонина, если в вечернее время вы смотрите на источники синего света (460–480 нм) интенсивностью от 60 до 130 люкс — например, на экраны ноутбуков или смартфонов.

Мелатонин не только реализует важные для организма функции антиоксиданта и хронобиотика, но и оказывает влияние на углеводный обмен, секрецию инсулина, гормонов жировой ткани (лептина, адипонектина) и пищевое поведение. Благодаря своим свойствам мелатонин регулирует метаболизм практически в каждом типе клеток.

Почему может развиваться недостаток мелатонина? Тому может быть множество причин: уже упомянутое избыточное освещение в ночное время, сменный график работы, облучение области эпифиза и т.д. Но одной из причин также являются возрастные изменения организма.

После пика в препубертате уровень мелатонина снижается до стабильного «взрослого» уровня — именно тогда у человека должны стабилизироваться его «биологические часы». Мелатонин вырабатывается в нужном количестве и в нужное время, человек начинает ложиться и вставать примерно в одно и то же время — в соответствии со своим хронотипом (если, конечно, ему не мешают внешние обстоятельства вроде графика работы).

Но у людей старше 25–40 лет выработка мелатонина эпифизом снижается — примерно до 60% от «взрослого» уровня. С этого момента происходит постоянное снижение уровня гормона, вплоть до 20% от «взрослого» уровня к 90 годам.

Как понять, что уровень мелатонина у вас может быть снижен?

• Вы с трудом засыпаете по ночам, часто чувствуете слабость, усталость, сонливость в дневные часы.
• У вас увеличивается аппетит.
• Появляются или обостряются расстройства пищевого поведения

В такой ситуации необходимо обратиться ко врачу — сомнологу или эндокринологу, который уже порекомендует необходимые исследования.

Пониженный мелатонин может снижать качество жизни, к тому же это один из факторов риска преждевременной смерти. Нехватка мелатонина может приводить к расстройству сна, повышению риска сахарного диабета 2-го типа и онкологических заболеваний, главным образом — рака молочной железы и простаты.

Некоторые из этих проявлений можно устранить с помощью терапии мелатонином.

Возможные бонусы правильно подобранной терапии мелатонином:

• улучшение количества и качества сна;
• антиоксидантный эффект, профилактика онкологических заболеваний;
• снижение жировой массы тела.

Но принимать мелатонин безопасно не для всех. С осторожностью стоит рассматривать терапию мелатонином при наличии эпилепсии, аутоиммунных заболеваний, тяжелой почечной и печеночной недостаточности.

Мои надпочечники устали?

В последние годы наряду с перечисленными выше гормонами в причины старения организма стали записывать так называемый «синдром усталости надпочечников». При этом современная доказательная медицина полностью отрицает существование такого состояния.

По мнению приверженцев этой теории, постоянный стресс (сопровождаемый выработкой гормонов — особенно кортизола) создает чрезмерную нагрузку на надпочечники — и железы «выгорают». Отсутствие должного количества гормонов надпочечников, якобы возникающее в итоге, приводит к появлению множества симптомов: усталость, проблемы с засыпанием или пробуждением, а также потребность в стимуляторах, таких как кофеин, чтобы сохранять бодрость днем.

В связи с быстрым темпом современной жизни, многие люди находятся в состоянии постоянного стресса и лишены полноценного сна. Легко понять, почему люди находят свои симптомы в «синдроме усталых надпочечников» и с радостью начинают лечить это состояние. Но в систематическом обзоре, опубликованном в 2016 году в BMC Endocrine Disorders, сообщается , что не найдено никакого подтверждения тому, что «усталость надпочечников» действительно существует. Усталость надпочечников не признается Обществом эндокринологов или другими эндокринологическими сообществами, в отличие от реально существующего заболевания — надпочечниковой недостаточности.

Самое парадоксальное, что «синдром усталости надпочечников» по своим симптомам даже близко не похож на надпочечниковую недостаточность. Первичная надпочечниковая недостаточность может развиваться вследствие аутоиммунного или инфекционного заболевания, метастатического поражения надпочечников, а также из-за их хирургического удаления. Это состояние характеризуется потерей веса, болью в суставах, анорексией, тошнотой, рвотой, диареей, сухостью кожи, низким артериальным давлением и утомляемостью. И, конечно, это заболевание требует гормональной терапии — глюкокортикостероидами, минералокортикостероидами и иногда андрогенами.

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