Hormones and Inflammation
One of most effective ways to address inflammation is to balance and optimize hormones. Measuring hormone levels provides a clear indicator of underlying inflammation; if testosterone or growth hormone begin to drop, it indicates a problem. Elevated levels of some hormones, like cortisol and insulin, may also lead to increases in inflammation:
Hormone declines that result in increased inflammation:
- Low Estrogen:
- Increases IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha, Lipids
- Low Testosterone:
- Increases TNF- alpha, IL-6, CRP
- TNF- alpha decreases Nitric Oxide production
- Low Thyroid:
- Correlated with elevated CRP and Metabolic Syndrome
- Low DHEA:
- Correlated with increased CRP, IL-6, NFk beta
- Low Growth hormone correlated with:
- Increased homocysteine
- Increased adipose
- Increased endothelial dysfunction and cardiac deaths
Hormone elevations resulting in increased inflammation:
- High Cortisol:
- Correlated with increased CRP, TNF-alpha
- High Insulin:
- Correlated with increased TNF-alpha, IL-6