Understanding Antioxidants And Hormonal Imbalance

Definition of Antioxidants and Free Radicals

1.

The interaction between the oxygen molecule and other substances that they may contact, these substances may be metal or tissues. In other words, it is the process of loss of electrons from an atom.

2.

Free radicals are defined as any element or molecule capable of free existence that has one unpaired electron in its atomic orbital. Hydroxyl radicals and nitric oxide radicals attack the important macromolecules such as lipids, nucleic acid and proteins and leads to hemostatic disruption and cell damage.

3.

Antioxidants are substances that can be created by humans or found naturally. These substances may prevent or reduce that cell damage. They are naturally found in fruits and vegetable and can be taken as dietary supplements. Examples of antioxidants are: lutein, lycopene, selenium, Vitamin A, C, and E.

The antioxidant representatives play a crucial role in preventing or inhibiting specific factors associated with oxidative injury. But the unbalance between antioxidant defence mechanism and oxidant species may trigger a specific factor that triggers oxidative stress (Pisoschi & Pop, 2015).

4.

Fill in the blanks

• Necrosis
• Abnormal ion flux
• Organelles dysfunction
• Channel protein
• Molecules
• Membrane receptors
• Nutrients
• Osmoregulation

5.

Antioxidants are the molecules that prevent the effects of the free radicals by donating an electron. This sharing of electron results in reducing the activity of free radicals. When a free radical released or steals an electron, another radical is formed (Patekar, Kheur, Bagul, Kulkarni, Mahalle, Ingle, & Dhas, 2013). This molecule continues to make more unstable products. This process did not stop until the terminations occur where the radical is stabilized by the chain breaking antioxidant like beta-carotene and vitamin C and E (Villines, 2017).

6.

• Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs) are found in most tissues in the body and their concentration increases from the age of twenty onward.
• Malondialdehyde treatment: L-Carnitine may protect the damage of cells by reducing the levels of MDA and increasing GSH (Ates, Alp, Mumcu, Azizi, Cinici, Kiziltunc, & Baykal, 2008).

Reactive Carbonyls produced from AGEs

Carbonyls are responsible for oxidative stress in the human body which leads to aging. Antioxidants such as Vitamin E can isolate or sequester carbonyl can provide an action against the oxidative stress (Hwang, Lee, Aldini, & Yeum, 2016).

7.

1. Production of cortisol and aldosterone decreases
2. Production of aldosterone hormone reduces which takes part in low blood pressure
3. The decrease in estrogen and progesterone
4. The parathyroid production has been increased with age, which contributes to osteoporosis (Medline Plus, 2018).

8.

1. Cushing syndrome is caused by the abnormally high levels of cortisol hormone.
2. Congenital Adrenal hyperplasia is the hereditary disease which occurred due to low production of cortisol and aldosterone.
3. Diabetes is associated with high blood sugar levels which are caused by the defect in Insulin production (Brito, 2017).

9.(A)

Water soluble hormones

WSH attaches to receptor molecule and causes a chemical reaction inside a cell and activates enzymes. These enzymes further either increase or decrease the speed of chemical reactions of the cell.

Example: Adrenalin, noradrenalin, TSH, and HGH.

Fat-soluble hormones (FSH)

It is also known as lipid soluble. They pass through the plasma membrane and attaches to a receptor and make hormone receptor complex which further moves to the nucleus and attached at the binding site of DNA. This results in gene activation (on) and inactivation (off).

Types and Effects of Antioxidants

Example: testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen (Ivyroses, 2018)

9.(B)

The changes occurred in endothelial eicosanoids contributes to reducing the function of the endothelium, pathological dysfunction, and age-related heart disease. The main functions of eicosanoids are reducing inflammation, blood clot inhibition, dilate blood vessels. Eicocenpide also associated with diabetic nerve damage, high blood pressure, allergies, skin inflammations and cancer. 

10.

1. Glucocorticoids
2. Androgens
3. Progesterone
4. Mineralocorticoids
5. estrogen (Nature, 2018)

11.

• Androgen: Affects thickness of skin, wrinkle formation, skin moisture, hair growth and sebaceous gland growth.
• DHEA: Allergic reactions of DHEA on the skin include skin redness, swelling, itching, and rashes. It also associated with hair loss, acne and facial hair growth in women’s (Nnama, 2017).
• MSH: Increased production of melanin results in skin darkness, Hyperpigmentation of skin. Deficiency of MSH leads to loss of protection from ultraviolet rays of the sun and inflammation (you and your hormones, 2018).

12.

How Anti-ageing treatment protocols correct the stress-related hormonal imbalance

• Reduce calorie intake: calorie restriction leads to increase growth hormone production.
• Hormone replacement therapy: It slows down the aging process. However, it has some side effects such as carpal tunnel and edema.
• Eflornithine (Vaniqa): it helps to slow the abnormal facial hair growth in women’s by regulating the excessive production of growth hormone
• Antiandrogen Medications: these prescription blocks androgen and helps to reduce severe acne and abnormal hair growth (Huizen, 2018).

13.

Adrenal gland conditions

• Adrenal gland fatigue: Deficiency of vitamins D, E and k leads to adrenal gland fatigue  
• Adrenal burnout: caused by low levels of macromolecules such as calcium, magnesium potassium and sodium. Low protein intake, vitamins A, C and E and manganese also associated with adrenal burnout (Wilson, 2018).

14.

Nutrients used in antigen treatment to treat adrenal glands

• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K
• Protein

15.

Nutrients	Reference value	How affects body systems
Vitamins C	45 mg/day	Deficiency of Vit c causes scurvy
Niacin (B3)	16 mg/day	Severe deficiency may cause Pellagra
Pantothenic Acid (B5)	6 mg/day	Deficiency affects the nervous system, energy production, and metabolism
Magnesium	330 mg/day	Deficiency causes diabetes, poor absorption, celiac and disease

 16.

1. Effects of hypothyroidism

• Dry hair
• Goiter
• Reduced heart rate
• Fatigue
• Dry skin
• Memory loss

          Hyperthyroidism

• Hair loss
• Rapid heart rate
• Muscle weakness
• Irritability
• Nervousness

  Treatments for hyperthyroidism

• Medicine such as methimazole stops the productions of thyroid
• Radioactive iodine: it is given orally either in the form of pill or liquid to ablate a hyperactive thyroid gland
• Radioactive iodine: removal of thyroid tissue that is producing the excess hormone (Medicine net, 2018).

Treatments for hypothyroidism

• Use of synthetic hormone levothyroxine. It restorers adequate level of hormone.

17.

Effects of lifestyle and diet on hormone activity

• Excessive consumption of alcohol and sugar, contraceptive pills leads to the hormone problem
• Emotional upset, lack of sleep, stress, aging, smoking, exposure to heavy metal such as lead and mercury, sedimentary lifestyle lead to hormonal imbalance (Butler, 2016).

18.

• Fibre rich diet can reduce the excessive level of estrogen. Lower levels of estrogen lower the risk of breast cancer in women’s. Salmon which is rich in omega 3 fatty acid boost testosterone level.
• Niacin intake has an effect on adrenal hormone and promotes the production of growth hormone
• Diet rich in Pantothenic acid promotes estrogen and progesterone production.

19.

• Cushion disease is associated with elevated level of cortisol
• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• Back pain
• Thin skin
• Blood sugar dysregulation
• High blood pressure
• Muscle wasting
• Acne
• Impaired memory (Mayoclinic, 2018)

20.

• Avoid high sugar diet, caffeine, and alcohol, high amount of trans fat
• Increase intake of micronutrients, antioxidant-rich diet, consumes enough fiber and healthy fats or protein.

21.

Saliva	Urine	serum
Real life function of hormone evaluated	Test results reported as: high, low or normal	Test results show high, low or normal levels
Multiple salivary specimens	Single urine specimen	Routine serum testing is required
The collection at multiple times allow analysis of hormonal stress response	24-hour urine does not reflect the stress response	serum collection requires hospital or clinic visits

B) Blood Advantages

• A wide range of tests available
• Accepted as a high standard testing method
• Ideal for peptide hormones

Disadvantages

• Invasive method
• Processing of specimen required (centrifugation)
• The limitation of testing sex hormones

22.

1. Liver function test
2. Full blood examination
3. Iron studies
4. TSH quantification
5. Urinalysis

23.

Taking blood specimen is an invasive and testing is time, so cannot be done frequently.

24.

Hormone ratios are important because they provide a straightforward way to analyze the effects of the twin interdependent hormones.

Estriol estradiol estrone

80:10:10

25.

Measuring hormone level is important for the accurate diagnosis of hormone-related disease states which all exhibit same overlapping symptoms. It also enables one to ensure the adequate balance of hormones. Inaccurate identifications of hormone level result in inappropriate treatments (Horone Testing, 2018).

26.

Aromatisation is a chemical process where the aromatic system is formed. Steroid aromatization is a natural process where testosterone is converted into estrogen carried out by the aromatase enzyme.

27.

• Epinephrine
• Corticotrophin-releasing hormone
• Adrenocorticotropic hormone
• cortisol

28.

• Dermatologist deals with skin related problem such as wrinkles, dryness and hair loss
• physiotherapist: to guide about the exercises beneficial in anti-aging
• general physician: to provide basic medicines related to blood pressure regulations
• Endocrinologist: specialist in hormones.

29.

Nurses regularly perform dermal filler and injections of neurotoxin and laser treatment.

• To provide care patient had surgery
• To help the patient with medicine instructions
• To describe the precautions related to anti-aging medicines.

Scenario 1

1.

Aging is the natural process but it increases if diet and lifestyle of a person are unfavorable to the body. Tina suffers stressful events because her husband left her and married to younger women than Tina. The aging process of Tina associated with unhealthy diet, lack of exercise and sleeplessness. She also consumes alcohol on daily basis.

2.

1. Aging is associated with lack of nutrients intake, alcohol intake and lack of exercise. Tina reported that she was taking high-calorie food and having stress during work hours which may be the reason for accelerating aging in Tina’s case.
2. Lifestyle-related changes

Consuming foods rich in B3, B6, and B12, reducing alcohol consumption 3 drinks a week, minimize fat intake. Yoga, dancing, and swimming might be a help to slow down aging, improve mood, and maintain healthy BMI and keeps brain sharp.

3.

Tina has acute stress which was related to her work where she sits for hours in front of the computer and to meet the deadlines. The chronic stress she suffers was related to her husband who left her and married to other younger women.

4.

The symptoms such as mood swings, stress levels, body temperature, weight gain, difficulty sleeping, high blood pressure, irritability, and anxiety are associated with hormonal imbalance. This is due to the increased or decreases productions of hormone such as insulin, steroids, growth hormone and adrenaline in the body.

Different Types of Hormones and Their Functions

5.

• Metformin: to help manage to decrease blood sugar level.
• Hormone replacement therapy and be provided to alter the imbalanced hormone levels
• Avoid alcohol consumption which may trigger the excess hormone production
• Regular exercises and healthy diet improves the insulin receptor sensitivity

6.

As mentioned above Tina was suffering from acute and chronic stress. She was having an unhealthy diet and irregular exercise habits. Aging is the natural process that cannot be stopped but by adding some healthy nutrients and nutraceuticals in diet healthy aging can be maintained. Food sources can be used as nutraceuticals to maintain the healthy aging in Tina’s case are dietary fibers, probiotics, prebiotics fatty acids polysaturated, amino acids minerals, and peptides, vitamins, carotenoids, phytochemicals (Pérez-Sánchez, Barrajón-Catalán, Herranz-López, & Micol, 2018).

1.a

Mr. David never exercised before he diagnosed with diabetes but at the age of 57, he started to do excessive exercise. At this age, the body is unable to handle such pressure which may result in excessive sweating and skin problems. He even reduced the healthy fat from his face. Long-term insulin may be the reason for chest pain in David’s case.

David needs to maintain the healthy fat in his body. Exercise should be limited which his body can handle. He should drink enough water to maintain the recover the loss of water, enough sleep, adding fruits in diet.  

2.

The most stress event in Mr. David’s scenario was the development of angina. He was always overweight since his childhood and it may be the stress he has all the time.

3.

ACTH is the hormone that associated with aging. It stimulates the production of cortisol from the adrenal gland. It may results in poor skin condition, weight, pain, and insomnia. Stress may associate with stimulation of sympathetic nerves leads to excessive sweating.
          By using antiperspirant, excessive sweating can be controlled. Relaxing techniques and meditation may help to reduce the stress.

4.

Nutrients that can be added to David’s diet are proteins, water, iron, calcium, Zinc Vitamins: A, D, E and K, Vitamin B complex and C (Clifford & Bellows, 2018).

Nutraceuticals

Bioactive peptides, bioactive polysaccharides, carotenoids, vitamin supplements and polyunsaturated fatty acids

Analyse the principle of anti-aging medicine

Clinical case study 1

1. Glycation is the process by which a molecule of sugar binds to protein and lipid. The Maillard reaction associated with AGEs where non-stable Schiff bases are formed due to the attachment of a glucose molecule to the amino acid. Further, it leads to the formation of ketoamine. Both Amadari product (ketoamine) and Schiff can react with amino acid or protein to produce adducts of protein. This will undergoes oxidation, dehydration, oxidative breakdown, polymerization and from a number of other AGEs.
2. According to the article, the glycosylation process is an enzymatic reaction and glycation is the non-enzymatic reaction. Glycation is the pathological reaction where AGE is the end product of the reaction and glycosylation is found to be a physiological reaction.
3. Effects of glycation on the skin are reduced epidermal homeostasis, cell renewal, and decrease skin contractile function, less tissue permeability, decreased elasticity and increase in stiffness. It also associated with induction and propagation of inflammation.
4. Extracellular proteins are the target of glycation. Collagen glycation affects its functioning. It also causes increased stiffness and decreased flexibility. In the intracellular protein, AGE modifies vimentin and CK10 in keratinocytes. Enzymes and growth factors are the targets.
5. Topical and edible ingredients such as aminoguanidine, Pyridoxamine, age breaker chemicals like dimethyl-3-phenyl-thiazolium chloride and FAOX enzyme.Nutraceuticals such as ascorbic acid, niacinamide, trolex, riboflavin, zinc, manganese, selenium yeast and trolox can help to inhibit in vitro glycation of albumin.
6. Anti-aging Strategies
7. Substances like Aminoguanidine and pyridoxamine helps top prevent or inhibit the formation of AGE.
8. Age breakers such as ALT-711, N-Phenacylthiazolium, and N- phenacyl—4, 5-dimethyl thiazolium break the Maillard reaction.
9. Nutraceuticals such as Trolox, niacinamide, pyridoxal, sodium selenite, selenium yeast inhibits glycation.
10. By restricting calorie intake prevent accumulation of AGE
11. Antagonism of RACE is also helpful to reduce accumulation of AGE. Gene knockdown of RACE by using siRNAs (Gkogkolou & Böhm, 2012).

1. In the stress event hypothalamus secrets CRH, this will further stimulate the pituitary gland to produce POMC peptides which includes ACTH, Adrenal gland then secretes GC and Catecholamines. In the response of these events, sebaceous gland produces CRH and prolactin, in nerve endings, secrete SP and catecholamine’s, dermal fibroblast secrets cortisol, epidermal keratinocytes, and melanocytes secretes CRH and Nts.
2. Atopic dermatitis is a skin disease associated with eczema and itching. The key features of an AD are skin barrier and function defect. Stress negatively impairs the permeability barriers function of the skin and also impacts homeostatic. Stress can is also suspected to trigger acne flares. Psoriasis exacerbation also associated with stress, the psoriasis stress affects skin peripheral HPA and SAM axis.
3. Pro-inflammatory signals such as cytokinesis cause oxidative damage to the cells and tissues, debris release. Psoriasis is associated with chronic skin inflammation leads to hyperplasia. Chronic inflammation also leads to dysfunction of protein, cell and organ and these changes contribute to aging.
4. Epinephrine binds to adrenergic receptors leads to decrease inflammation functions of the skin. NGF also contributes to allergic and neurogenic inflammation. Substances P or SP induces the release of cytokinesis leading to the proliferation of T cell and inflammation.
5. Anti-inflammatory medicine may help to reduce chronic inflammation. Taking low doses of anti-inflammatory medicine such as Aspirin may decrease inflammation. Glutathione is an antioxidant that has the efficacy to control severe forms of inflammation. Vitamin A, C, D, K, and E have treated all inflammatory condition.
6. The author suggests sleep deprivation can affect the skin because lack of sleep may cause fine lines, pigmentations, and decreased the elasticity of the skin. Sleeplessness also associated with slow recovery from skin disruption. These symptoms are directly related to aging (Chen, & Lyga, 2014).

1. Some of the sites like promoter-associated CpG islands that shows low DNA methylation tend to induce Methylation with age, while the person with increased DNA methylation like intergenic island tends to decrees methylation with the age.
2. Biochemical pathways associated with methylation are folate cycle where THF (tetrahydrofolate) changes to 10 formyls THF in the presence of DHFR. At this stage, purine is synthesized. The 10 formyl THF is then transformed in 5, 10 methylene THF in the presence of MTHFR and Riboflavin and further results in 5 MTHF. Another pathway is transsulfuration pathway where homocysteine changes to cysteine.
3. Epigenetic drift is described as the collection of epigenetic changes occurs with age, which could be related to a person’s unique environment.Epigenetic clock reflects the aging process. It occurs due to the increasing variability which is caused by epigenetic drift.

1. Epigenetic drift and the epigenetic clock used as a marker to understand to the aging process in a particular person so that the treatments can the applied accordingly. DNA methylation can be sued as age predictor. Epigenetic age could be helpful to assess intervention or treatments.
2. Findings of this studies related to the link between DNA methylation, epigenetic drift, and epigenetic drift can be helpful to discover new treatment for age-related problems. The results about the biochemical pathways related to methylations show that the aging process can be reduced by altering some pathways that accelerate aging.
3. According to Wilson, it was found that ALU and Line-1 elements exhibit decreased reduced methylation levels and increase in variability with age.
4. Most important nutrient in DNA methylation pathways is folate and B12. Some other nutrients such as cysteine, DHA, zinc, magnesium, riboflavin, niacin and choline also play a role in therapeutic treatment (Jones, Goodman, & Kobor, 2015).

References

Ates, O., Alp, H. H., Mumcu, U., Azizi, S., Cinici, E., Kiziltunc, A., & Baykal, O. (2008). The effect of L-carnitine treatment on levels of malondialdehyde and glutathione in patients with age-related macular degeneration. The Eurasian journal of medicine, 40(1), 1.

Brito, J. (2017). Everything you should know about hormonal imbalance. Retrieved from: https://www.healthline.com/health/hormonal-imbalance

Butler, N. (2016). How your diet affects your hormones during menopause. Retrieved from: https://www.healthline.com/health/menopause/diet-hormones#5

Chen, Y., & Lyga, J. (2014). Brain-skin connection: stress, inflammation and skin aging. Inflammation & Allergy-Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets-Inflammation & Allergy), 13(3), 177-190.

Clifford, J. & Bellows, L. (2018). Nutrition and Aging. Retrieved from: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/nutrition-food-safety-health/nutrition-and-aging-9-322/

Custommedicine (2018). Hormone Testing. Retrieved from: https://custommedicine.com.au/hormone-analysis/

Gkogkolou, P., & Böhm, M. (2012). Advanced glycation end products: key players in skin aging?. Dermato-endocrinology, 4(3), 259-270.

Huizen, J. (2018). What to know about hormonal imbalance. Retrieved from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321486.php

Hwang, S. W., Lee, Y. M., Aldini, G., & Yeum, K. J. (2016). Targeting reactive carbonyl species with natural sequestering agents. Molecules, 21(3), 280.

Ivyroses (2018). Water soluble hormones VS fat-soluble hormones. Retrieved from: https://www.ivyroses.com/HumanBody/Endocrine/Hormones-solubility.php

Jones, M. J., Goodman, S. J., & Kobor, M. S. (2015). DNA methylation and healthy human aging. Aging cell, 14(6), 924-932.

Jones, M. J., Goodman, S. J., & Kobor, M. S. (2015). DNA methylation and healthy human aging. Aging cell, 14(6), 924-932.

Mayoclininc (2018). Cushing syndrome. Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cushing-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20351310

Medicine Net (2018). Hyperthyroidism symptoms, cause, treatment, and diet. Retrieved from: https://www.medicinenet.com/hyperthyroidism/article.htm#hyperthyroidism_definition_and_facts

Medline Plus (2018). Aging changes in hormone production. Retrieved from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/004000.htm

Nature (2018). Steroid hormones. Retrieved from: https://www.nature.com/subjects/steroid-hormones

Nnama, H. (2017). DHEA harmful effects. Retrieved from: https://www.livestrong.com/article/225970-dhea-harmful-effects/

Patekar, D., Kheur, S., Bagul, N., Kulkarni, M., Mahalle, A., Ingle, Y., & Dhas, V. (2013). ANTIOXIDANT DEFENCE SYSTEM. Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology Journal, 4(1).

Pérez-Sánchez, A., Barrajón-Catalán, E., Herranz-López, M., & Micol, V. (2018). Nutraceuticals for skin care: A comprehensive review of human clinical studies. Nutrients, 10(4), 403.

Villines, Z. (2017). How do free radicals affect the body?. Medicine News Today. Retrieved from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318652.php

Wilson, L. (2018). Adrenal Burnout Syndrome. Retrieved from: https://www.drlwilson.com/articles/adrenal_burnout.htm

You and Your Hormones (2018). Melanocyte-stimulating hormone. Retrieved from: https://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/melanocyte-stimulating-hormone/

Pisoschi, A. M., & Pop, A. (2015). The role of antioxidants in the chemistry of oxidative stress: A review. European journal of medicinal chemistry, 97, 55-74.