Hormones
During many years, medicine has recognised the benefits that replacing hormones which diminish with ageing have for health. The replacement of these hormones at physiological levels (optimal levels, but within the normal range and not excessive) ) has demonstrated that it can mitigate changes related to age.
The decrease in quality of life during menopause and andropause is largely due to the decline of our hormones, which from the ages of 30 to 35 falls between 2 and 5 percent annually. When restoring the appropriate hormonal balance, we recuperate the functional balance of our body, which may prevent many of the diseases related to ageing and quality of life.
Testosterone
Testosterone is produced in the testicles, ovaries and adrenal glands. It improves libido, vitality, energy, sense of wellness, bone mineral density, muscle mass and strength and decreases body fat.
Estrogen
Estrogen is produced in the ovaries, fat tissue and adrenal glands. It has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system, bones, sexual life, skin smoothness, emotional wellbeing, sleep, cognitive capacity, mood, etc.
Progesterone
Progesterone is produced in the testicles, ovaries and adrenal glands. It has a positive effect on the bone system, emotional wellbeing, cognitive capacity, mood, etc. Furthermore, it is necessary for the balance of other hormones.
DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone)
DHEA is produced in the adrenal glands and is a precursor to other hormones like testosterone and estrogens. It facilitates tissue reconstruction (stimulating protein metabolism), helps to control stress (counteracting the cortisol effect) and has positive effects at a cardiovascular, bone, immune, sexual, mood, etc. level.
Thyroid Hormones
Thyroid hormones are produced in the thyroid and regulate the metabolic rate of all the cells. Their effect is to control body temperature and facilitate fatty tissue metabolism, which helps with the loss of fat weight and with the decrease in cholesterol levels. They are cardio and neuroprotective.
HGH (human growth hormone)
HGH is produced in the pituitary gland. It stimulates tissue repair, skin hydration, and muscular and bone development. HGH interferes with metabolism.
Melatonin
Melatonin is a molecule related to neuroendocrine physiology. It is involved in the regulation of circadian rhythms, both endocrine and non- endocrine, and in the sleep-wake rhythm. It also is a hormone that modulates in the immune system. In addition, it is also essential in the control of the mitochondrial function, for ATP production (the form of energy the cell uses for all its functions). Moreover, melatonin is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
Investigations show that hormone replacement therapy slows down the deterioration and functional deficit related to the ageing process and boosts the immune system.
More than half a century of research in the fields of immunology and endocrinology make it possible that the importance of metabolic and hormonal balance and its impact on ageing and health is better known today.
Hormonal replacement therapy has been studied and researched in depth since the first half of the 20th century. Already in 1939, Science magazine published an article about a subcutaneous implant of oestradiol granules (subcutaneous pellets). Since then and until the most recent investigations, hundreds of scientific articles set out the principles for hormone replacement therapy.
The National Institute of Aging (ageing agency in the US) finances the research in hormone replacement therapy at seven US universities.
Nearly every month new research appears on the benefits of hormone replacement therapy, which make doctors and patients even more interested in its use.
Ageing is not a process of functional loss and unchanging decline. The decrease in the levels of many of our hormones throughout life is related to this ageing process and its replacement in a controlled and correctly prescribed manner delays functional loss and general decline related to ageing.
