Hormone researchers at the 葫芦影业 (UH) have their sights set on providing
long-term treatment options for diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases by better
understanding estradiol, the most potent naturally occurring estrogen.
They now believe that this estrogen hormone is a prominent regulator of several body
functions in both females and males. While estradiol is more commonly associated with
processes and diseases specific to women, the team determined that the hormone actually
functions as a unisex hormone with multiple actions. Research has indicated that when
there is an excessive or insufficient amount of estradiol present, the metabolic network
becomes imbalanced, which can result in metabolic diseases.
鈥淔emale hormones have always been associated with the menstrual cycle, pregnancy,
breast-feeding and some diseases, such as osteoporosis and breast cancer, typically
associated with women,鈥� said Dr. Rodrigo Barros, a research assistant professor with
the UH Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling (CNRCS). 鈥淥ur group, however,
has discovered that one of these hormones, estradiol, has much wider actions than
previously thought. It is no longer considered exclusively a 鈥榝emale sex hormone,鈥�
but a 鈥榰nisex hormone鈥� with multiple actions across several organ systems.鈥�
Working with CNRCS director and professor Dr. Jan-脜ke Gustafsson, Barros says that
part of their research is dedicated to understanding how estradiol regulates feeding
and food metabolism, explaining that this hormone is involved with several metabolic
diseases, including eating disorders, obesity and diabetes.
鈥淲e believe that all the systems in the body involved with food consumption and metabolism,
which include the brain, liver, pancreas, heart, muscles and fat, are connected by
estradiol, resulting in a 鈥榤etabolic network鈥� regulated by the hormone,鈥� Barros said.
鈥淥ur evidence shows that when too much or too little estradiol is available, this
delicate network loses its balance and metabolic diseases set in.鈥�
This research has important implications for the average consumer, as well as for
physicians. While hormones like estradiol are important for the adequate maintenance
of body functioning, they may pose serious risks to a person鈥檚 health if misused as
supplements. This comes into play when people use alternative forms of hormones, such
as natural plant derivatives, that may be harmful if used inappropriately.
For specialists dealing with hormonal treatments, this research underscores that they
should be aware that several organs and body functions are affected when estradiol
is prescribed and may cause or worsen metabolic diseases. Due to the number of organs
and functions affected by fluctuating levels of estradiol, its use as a hormonal treatment
for patients with delayed puberty, menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis and prostate
cancer is a source of debate within the medical and research communities. Exploring
the impact of such treatments as reported by Barros and Gustafsson is helpful for
keeping these professionals abreast of new research and guidelines.
Their findings are described in an invited review titled 鈥淓strogen Receptors and the
Metabolic Network.鈥� The report appeared in the September issue of the research journal
Cell Metabolism, a high-impact monthly research journal in the Cell Press publishing
network that chronicles notable research on salient scientific discoveries. To view
the abstract, visit .
Funded by the Robert A. Welch Foundation, the Emerging Technology Fund of Texas and
the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, the CNRCS team works in collaboration
with Sweden鈥檚 Karolinska Institutet.
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