Prolactin: The anti life hormone, Thyroid and Testosterone antagonist, hair loss driver.
Very often I see how blocking harmful hormones can be the most effective lever to pull when 'optimizing' health is the goal.
Prolactin in this case is a very easy target that once addressed can drastically improve the quality of life in almost every person.
In this article I'll present data showing how elevated prolactin:
-Inhibits thyroid function, thus lowering metabolic rate.
-Lowers androgens production(Testosterone and DHT)
-Increases fat storages, especially belly fat.
-Impairs cognitive function and blood flow to the brain.
-Causes hair loss.
- Works together with Estrogen, Serotonin and Parathyroid hormone.
804 patients with high prolactin levels were included in this systemic review, 456 were subclinical hypothyroid and 314 were hypothyroid.
Whether High prolactin caused Hypothyroidism or the Hypothyroidism caused Hyper-prolactinoma is the old chicken and egg debate.
The link between them is very tight and in this review giving the patients Thyroid hormones dropped their prolactin levels, T3 & T4 are in fact prolactin antagonists.
Prolactin VS DHT
On of the main organs to look into to get a picture of someone's androgenic activity is the gonads, this is were most of our testosterone and DHT are produced.
Prolactin inhibits the production of gonadotropin, which is the hormone that stimulates LH and FSH production which then act in the gonads to stimulate testosterone and DHT production.
The hypothalamus produces and releases a hormone called GnRH (Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone). This release must occur in rhythmic pulses for the system to function optimally, prolactin suppresses the activity of specific neurons (primarily Kisspeptin neurons that signal the hypothalamus). As a result, the hypothalamus stops releasing GnRH.
The Anterior Pituitary Gland, receives the GnRH signal from the hypothalamus. In response, they produce and release gonadotropins(LH,FSH) into the bloodstream.
LH acts on Leydig cells: These cells are responsible for steroidogenesis.
LH triggers an enzymatic chain reaction in the mitochondria. This process takes cholesterol, converts it to testosterone and then to DHT.
FSH acts on Sertoli cells: Together with a testosterone and DHT rich environment, FSH stimulates the production and maturation of sperm cells (spermatogenesis).
In this study 10 men with high prolactin levels received bromocriptine which is a prolactin antagonist by being a Dopamine agonist(D2).
-Sperm motility improved
- 3 pregnancies achieved(1 spontaneous abortion)
-Testosterone levels increased.
A systematic review on the role of aromatase inhibitors for men with prolactinoma and hypogonadism shows that Testosterone therapy can increase prolactin levels probably because the patients have high aromatase activity, aromatase converts the testosterone they get to estrogen that increases prolactin levels causing hypogonadism and erectile dysfunction.
A combination of Androgen(DHT/T) + Aromatase inhibitor(Examastane) + Dopamine agonist(Bromocriptine) can be VERY powerful in lowering prolactin and estrogen.
A few other studies showing the effect of prolactin on gonadal function, testosterone and DHT production.
PMID:29102564, 35323937 , 977731 , 12668871 , 33766719 , 33376697 , 15070934 , 15829128 , 12364416 , 36835974.
Prolactin = Hair loss
Prolactin promotes hair shedding (Catagen) and blocks the anagen phase.
This study shows that it also cause significant inhibition of hair shaft elongation, Premature entry of the follicle into the catagen phase, decrease in cell division (which drives growth) and an increase in apoptosis (programmed cell death) of the hair bulb keratinocytes.
A few other studies showing the effect of prolactin on hair loss:
PMID: 2965459 , 3378687.
If you suffer from hair loss or want to prevent hair loss then making sure your prolactin levels are not high is crucial.
Also check out this product which has some great pro hair ingredients:
Prolactin = Serotonin + Estrogen + PTH
The SSRI(Selective Serotonin Ruptake Inhibitor) drug "fluoxetin" aka Prozac combined with Serotonin Increased Prolactin levels 9 fold 1h post administration compared to control group. Procaz with the serotonin antagonist Methysergide caused Prolactin levels to drop.
This study demonstrate in both ways how serotonin increases prolactin, a
The parathyroid hormone is a toxic hormone, that directly blocks thyroid function, destroy bones and teeth.
This study connects PTH and prolactin:
In his article: "Calcium and Disease: Hypertension, organ calcification, & shock, vs. respiratory energy" Ray Peat mentioned the dangers of prolactin and it's effects on bone loss, parathyroid activation and inflammaion.
How to lower Prolactin?
1. The most effective anti-prolactin drugs are dopamine agonists(Bromocriptine, Cabergoline), they are very effective in lowering prolactin and improving androgen dominance.
2.Blocking Estrogen is very effective in lowering prolactin while raising testosterone and DHT, Vitamin E is a very potent estrogen antagonists and aromatase inhibitor, this is the vitamin E I use because it has all 4 tocopherols and no seed oils.
vitamin K is another estrogen antagonists that works very well with vitamin E(Don't take them at the same time) @Lark_Supply has a great one, also IdeaLabs.
2.Consume 3-10g of salt every day.
3. Avoid gooning too much(also don't avoid it)
When you cum, prolactin is increased, in a healthy manner this is temporary, but too often and this can potentially increase prolactin levels.
4. Avoid PUFA- this is a no brainer at this point but worth saying!
5. SUN EXPOSURE - being in the sun is crucial for dopamine production which is the main prolactin antagonist, it also lowers serotonin and nitric oxide while increasing DHT and testosterone.
6. Eat liver and oysters, they contain so many minerals and vitamins which lower prolactin.
7. supplement a B complex, they lower prolactin, I like Energin from IdeaLabs.
8. SLEEP IS CRUCIAL FOR OPTIMAL PROLACTIN REGULATION.
Thanks for reading, I hope this information improves your health.
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