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healthy immune system

Соотношение кортизол/ДГЭА-С

Cortisol/Dhea-S Ratio Of Longevity

Cortisol/Dhea-S Ratio Of Longevity Read More »

A complex interaction between cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S) is crucial in the stress system balance. In particular, significantly higher or lower cortisol/DHEA(S) ratios have been associated with depression and aggression. In general, DHEA-S levels affect various body systems, as well as prevent aging (Chahal and Drake 2007). That is why the Cortisol DHEA ratio is a very informational indicator, which, along with other indicators calculated in Healsens, provides important information about human health. Thus, using the ratio of cortisol / DHEA-S, you can assess body responses to exercise or evaluate mental health. Another benefit is that you can check your cortisol and DHEA-S levels at home. This article was last reviewed by Svetlana Baloban, Healsens, on January 24, 2020. This article was last modified on 4 March 2021. How Cortisol and DHEA Sulfate Affect the Body Let’s start by looking at how cortisol and DHEA-S affect overall health. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and cortisol are produced in the adrenal glands and are both derived from pregnenolone. So, DHEA and DHEA-S production reaches its peak at the age of 20–30 and then declines progressively with age. When it comes to cortisol levels, while some studies show that cortisol increases with age, others do not support this observation. However, everyone agrees that the reduction in DHEA-S entails disruption of various physiological systems. Stress Level As mentioned above, DHEA and DHEA-S play a protective role during acute stress as an antagonist to the action of the stress hormone cortisol. In turn, cortisol also helps to effectively manage stress. Let’s see how this happens. About 15 minutes after a stressful situation, cortisol levels rise and remain elevated for several hours. This marks the onset of stage 1. During this stage, there are elevations in cortisol with no corresponding changes in DHEA. Subsequently, glucose is mobilized, non-essential organ systems are suppressed, and inflammation is reduced. All of these physiological responses collectively enable the body to effectively cope with stress. However, in cases of chronic stress, this adaptive reaction can take a catastrophic turn: cortisol loses its ability to function normally. This transition ushers in stage 2. In this latter stage, the persistence of stress leads to a sustained peak in cortisol levels, matched by a corresponding elevation of DHEA. IN THIS ARTICLE 1 How Cortisol and DHEA Sulfate Affect the Body 2 Assessing Exercises 3 Adrenal/DHEA Restoration RELATED ARTICLES It becomes increasingly challenging to maintain appropriate blood sugar levels, to allow for adequate rest, to achieve high-quality sleep, and to achieve a harmonious balance among other hormones. This signals the arrival of stage 3, wherein stress persists and becomes chronic. During this stage, cortisol levels decrease, while DHEA remains elevated. In the absence of timely intervention, prolonged adrenal hyperstimulation can result in adrenal exhaustion. This condition is eventually manifested by a decline in both cortisol and DHEA, a phase often denoted as adrenal exhaustion or stage 4. Ultimately, this process may culminate in adrenal failure. Thus, the optimal ratio between salivary cortisol and DHEA is approximately 5:1 to 6:1, serving as an indicator of a normal state of adaptation to stress. When the body’s ability to maintain its normal stress adaptation is compromised, a process known as stress maladjustment can ensue. This phenomenon is now recognized as a chronic stress response, often identified by terms like pregnenolone steal, cortisol escape, or an elevated cortisol to DHEA ratio. The longer one remains in a state of chronic stress, the more pervasive its negative impact becomes on various aspects of physical well-being. As a result, individuals grappling with depression or heightened anxiety levels (measured at 0.24 ± 0.03 in the healthy group compared to 0.41 ± 0.12 in the group of individuals with severe anxiety), along with those dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, exhibit disruptions in the cortisol to DHEA ratio. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that certain studies have demonstrated the potential of DHEA treatment to mitigate the adverse health effects associated with stress. Musculoskeletal disorders We have already mentioned that cortisol dysfunction entails disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Thus, the higher the cortisol / DHEA-S ratio, the more serious the risk of this problem. Moreover, multiple regression analysis showed that the independent risk factor for sarcopenia was a serum cortisol/DHEA-S ratio ≥ 0.2. Sarcopenia is a type of muscle loss that occurs with aging and/or immobility. Immunity and Cortisol DHEA Ratio In addition, an increase in the cortisol / DHEA-S ratio with age (Phillips et al. 2007) is associated with immune dysfunction and the risk of infection in the elderly due to the fact that DHEA-S enhances immunity. However, cortisol has an inverse immunosuppressive effect (Buford and Willoughby 2005). It is also worth adding that DHEA-S is known for its antioxidant properties. Metabolic Syndrome Various studies have shown that both cortisol and DHEAS are related to metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. While high cortisol concentrations are associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, high DHEA-S levels appear to be protective. By far, the strongest associations were observed for the cortisol / DHEA-S ratio. According to observations, the higher the coefficient, the greater the risk of metabolic syndrome. This ratio is also strongly associated with four of the five components of metabolic syndrome. Alzheimer’s Disease The cortisol / DHEA-S ratio may also be crucial in Alzheimer’s disease. For example, some studies have found a link between the cortisol / DHEA-C ratio and a decrease in hippocampal volume. It is worth saying that a decrease in the volume of the hippocampus is one of the early diagnostic signs of Alzheimer’s disease. This finding has been confirmed by other studies, observing the relationship between cortisol / DHEA-S and hippocampal atrophy (HA). For example, such a direct relationship was observed in patients with Cushing’s syndrome. Moreover, HC volume partially recovered following treatment-induced cortisol decrease. However, not all studies support this association within normal cortisol levels in healthy people. To sum up, the ratio of cortisol / DHEA sulfate can reflect: Assessing Exercises DHEA (Aldred et al. 2009; Cumming et al. 1986) and DHEA-S (Tremblay et al.

vitamin a immune system

VITAMIN A HELPS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

VITAMIN A HELPS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM Read More »

Vitamins are essential constituents of our diet that have been known to influence the immune system. But which vitamins have proven effective to help our immune system? Is a healthy diet enough? All these questions are constantly raised and become especially burning during epidemics. In turn, many studies test hypotheses and publish the results, sometimes breaking quite common myths. This time, to further expand on the topic of immunity health, we will review how vitamin A affects the immune system. We will also answer the question of how to check a deficiency / excess of this vitamin. This article was last reviewed by Svetlana Baloban, Healsens, on February 23, 2020. This article was last modified on 22 February 2020. To begin with, we note that vitamins cannot be sufficiently synthesized by our body and must come to us with food. So Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, who won Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, said that “Vitamins and their metabolites are essential for a large number of physiological processes”. And that’s true. Vitamins and their metabolites are essential for a large number of physiological processes. They play an important role in the immune system, extending to both innate and adaptive immune responses Vitamin A Helps Immune System IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Vitamin A Helps Immune System 2 Vitamin A Deficiency 3 How is vitamin A deficiency treated and prevented? 4 Hypervitaminosis A or Vitamin A Toxicity RELATED ARTICLES Many people know that vitamin A is crucial for maintaining vision. And, of course, who has not heard that it is widely used in cosmetics?! Vitamin A turned out to be the first vitamin approved by the Food and Drug Administration as an anti-wrinkle agent.. Thus, it confirmed its ability to change the appearance of the skin surface and has anti-aging effects. However, its functions do not end there. So, it is crucial for promoting growth and development and protecting epithelium and mucus. Did you know that it’s also called an anti-inflammation vitamin? It has to do with its critical role in enhancing immune function. For this function, vitamin A should be referred to as the vitamin that helps our immune system. In turn, vitamin A deficiency impairs innate immunity by impeding the regeneration of mucosal barriers damaged by infection. It’s not just that our innate immunity suffers, but vitamin A is also required for adaptive immunity. In severe cases, the immune system is so weak that it cannot even cope with a common cold. There are several reasons why vitamin A deficiency may develop. First of all, nutritional deficiencies can affect the lack of this vitamin. So, we obtain vitamin A through diet in two forms. Retinol and retinyl ester come from animal sources such as meat, dairy products, and fish. Provitamin A (beta-carotenoid) is derived from colorful fruits and vegetables. Insufficient intake of the vitamin with food may result in its deficiency. Second, vitamin deficiency is associated with certain diseases, such as liver disorder. Moreover, infectious diseases transiently depress serum retinol concentrations. Zinc deficiency can also impair the absorption, transportation and metabolism of vitamin A. Let’s see how often vitamin A deficiency occurs in people? Vitamin A Deficiency and Its Impact on the Immune System Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is the single most important cause of childhood blindness in developing countries. Dietary surveys indicate that many US adults are not meeting dietary requirements for vitamin A. According to their results, 51% of adults fall short of the Estimated Average Requirement. But what about the situation in other countries? ? In 2018, a paper was published about vitamin A intake in China among 12,246 adults aged 18 to 64 years old. Approximately 87% of adults didn’t consume enough vitamin A. Remarkably, retinol intake was significantly higher in younger adults compared to older adults, and in males compared to females. Therefore, understanding the symptoms of vitamin A deficiency can be very helpful. So, classic symptoms include problems such as dry eyes and night blindness. Although eye problems are the most well-known issues related to vitamin A deficiency, this symptom may not be observed. Therefore, we consider other symptoms. Dry skin also is suggestive of its deficiency but can be due to other causes. Moreover, poor wound healing, as well as acne, may indicate a problem of vitamin A. To diagnose vitamin A deficiency, a serum vitamin A/retinol analysis is used. This lab test will be useful if levels are under 28 μg/dL. In this case, it will indicate an acute shortage. However, this analysis is not suitable if deficiency is mild. This is due to the fact that serum retinol concentrations don’t begin to decline in healthy individuals until liver reserves of vitamin A are dangerously low. How is vitamin A deficiency treated and prevented? In order to prevent vitamin A deficiency, it will be enough to include foods rich in vitamin A into your diet. Concentrations of preformed vitamin A are highest in liver and fish oils. Other sources of preformed vitamin A include such foods as: The recommended daily allowance (RDA) is 900 mcg and 700 mcg per day for men and women. So, one medium-sized raw carrot, weighing 61 g, contains 509 mcg RAE of vitamin A. To talk about vitamin A deficiency, it treated with vitamin A palmitate oil. For such cases, a dosage of 60,000 IU is taken orally for 2 days. Then the dosage reduced to 4500 IU orally per day. An alternative dosing is: Hypervitaminosis A or Vitamin A Toxicity Vitamin A is fat-soluble. Therefore the body is able to accumulate it, mainly in the liver. Accordingly, its excessive consumption can lead to its excess, which is toxic (hypervitaminosis A). But do not worry that a regular diet can lead to such results. As already mentioned, a study of dietary preferences came to exactly opposite conclusion. Nevertheless, excessive consumption of foods rich in vitamin A has been observed. For example, the authors of “Carrot man” tell a story of a 48-year-old male. The man complained to his primary care physician of abdominal discomfort and yellow/orange skin discoloration. It turned out that

недостаток цинка

EFFECT OF ZINC ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

EFFECT OF ZINC ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM Read More »

Immune response is the main mechanism of host defense against infections and pathogenic microbes, it helps to eliminate toxic or allergenic substances that enter our body through mucosal surfaces. So, the importance of immune response can hardly be overestimated. However, a wide range of factors can disrupt it. And by reason of it, it is so important to understand what exactly causes the failure. In this article, we will talk about the role of zinc in the immune system and this will open a series of articles on the topic of maintaining immunity. This article was last reviewed by Svetlana Baloban, MD on 18 March 2020. This article was last modified on 7 February 2020. How to boost the immune system When talking about ways to strengthen our immune system, we cannot help recalling some general recommendations. Usually, general recommendations look exactly the same as those for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, namely: But the most effective means of preventing infection are still vaccines. IN THIS ARTICLE 1 How to boost the immune system 2 Zinc Functions in the Immune System 3 Zinc Deficiency Symptoms 4 Diagnosis 5 Foods High in Zinc RELATED ARTICLES Even though this list of general recommendations is non-exhaustive, these recommendations are universal and will work for everyone. And since you probably heard about them, we will talk about other factors that can negatively affect immunity. So, there is evidence that various micronutrient and vitamin deficiencies result in a weak immune system. These, for example, include vitamin A and vitamin D deficiencies, lack of zink, selenium, and others. As we have already said, we will begin our review with the effect of zinc on immunity. We will loop over the role of zinc in the immune system, talk about diagnostics and analyze treatment methods. About Zinc Zin is a mineral that’s important to the body in many ways. It is the second most abundant trace metal in the human body after iron. In contrast to the latter, zinc cannot be stored and has to be taken up via food daily to guarantee sufficient supply. So, it plays a role in cell division and growth, wound healing, and the breakdown of carbohydrates. Zinc also provides normal brain functioning, improves memory, and mental performance. In addition, it contributes to maintaining healthy bones, skin, hair, nails. Moreover, zinc is an antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory effect. This ability plays a role in the prevention of free-radical-induced injuries during inflammatory processes. Zinc and Immune System But the functions of zinc in the body do not end there. Zinc deficiency, as well as zinc excess lead to a weak immune system, which can result in increased susceptibility to infections and the development of inflammatory diseases. This is primarily due to the fact that zinc is crucial to normal development and functioning of cells which indirectly affect innate immunity, neutrophils and NK cells. Zinc deficiency also affects cells which absorb particles that are foreign or harmful to the body (macrophages). And in addition, zinc deficiency adversely affects the growth and function of major immune cells (T and B cells). As far back as 1963, Dr. Prasad for the first time proved the existence of zinc deficiency. Since then, knowledge about zinc evolved rapidly. It has been proven that marginal-to-moderate zinc deficiency leads to a weak immune system, delays wound healing, and increases oxidative stress. When zinc deficiency was first discovered, it was thought to be a rare disease. However, subsequent studies have found that zinc deficiency is very common, with an estimated two billion people worldwide being affected. As for zinc excess, it needs to be said, that it is quite rare. As a rule, its symptoms are mostly due to copper deficiency. Zinc Deficiency Symptoms As it was already mentioned above, the lack of zinc is a fairly frequent phenomenon. In addition, it especially affects industrial countries and the elderly. Therefore, let’s look at its indirect and direct signs that can be determined. The first symptom of zinc deficiency is a weak immune system. So, if you often catch a cold or are susceptible to chronic allergies, it may be a sign of zinc deficiency. Diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome may also indicate a lack of zinc. And besides, deterioration of the skin, nails, and hair can mean a deficiency of this trace element. Lack of zinc can cause significant hair loss. Worsening night vision, decreased mood, sleep disturbances, and decreased appetite are also noted. Vegetarians are more likely to have trouble getting enough zinc than others. This is due to the fact that they exclude meat from the diet, while meat is a good source of zinc. For such people, it would be useful to consider foods high in zinc. For example, you can vary your diet with pumpkin seeds, which can be added to any dishes, or almonds (see the full list of high products in zinc below). Also, alcoholic beverages decrease the amount of zinc that the body absorbs and increase the amount lost in the urine. In addition, studies reveal that nutritional deficiency of zinc is caused by high consumption of cereals, legumes, and oilseeds. They are all rich in phytate, which makes zinc unavailable for absorption. Diagnosis To date, no specific and reliable biomarker of zinc status is known. Nonetheless, serum/plasma zinc concentrations can be seen as potentially useful. Unfortunately, this test is far from ideal, as some elderly people were subject to an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines (zinc depletion factor) at normal plasma levels of zinc. That is why doctors can offer additional tests to show the content of zinc in the hair or its content in the urine. He may also suggest researching your diet to see how much zinc comes with food. But be as it may, a laboratory blood test for zinc is readily available, inexpensive, and good for primary diagnosing. Lab Test for Zinc Deficiency Reference Range (mcg/mL) for the age of 11 years old: 0.66 – 1.10 mcg/mL Foods High in Zinc A wide variety of foods

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