New research has found that a single hormone, INSL3, can predict a number of age-related diseases. How much it is? Many. Osteoporosis, sexual dysfunction, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease. Basically a crystal ball that "reads" our future doctor. The INSL3 hormone first appears during puberty and remains at stable levels throughout life, declining just a little in old age. Its stability and the young age in which it appears make its observation valuable for scientists (and for us).
Observed special
According to this new research published on Frontiers in Endocrinology (I link it to you here), lower levels of the hormone INSL3 at a young age (and therefore also at an older age) are linked to higher risks of health complications. This means that if we perfect the observation of INSL3 we will be able to manage complications before they arise, anticipating their onset. The reproductive endocrinologist Ravinder Anand-Ivell of the University of Nottingham in the UK highlights the enormous importance of this research: it can lead to solutions that will help people live healthier and more active lives despite their age.
Our latest discovery about the INSL3 hormone is a major milestone in understanding their function and will allow us to help people at every level.
Ravinder Anand-Ivell
A few words about the INSL3 hormone and the study
the INSL3 hormone is produced by the same cells in the testicles that produce testosterone. However, unlike testosterone, INSL3 levels do not change throughout the adult life of men. A key factor. To monitor its level, researchers collected blood samples from more than 2.200 men in Europe and found that INSL3 hormone levels correlated with the number and health of Leydig cells in the testicles. A reduction of these cells and testosterone is associated with various health problems in old age. The results, obtained through questionnaires completed by the participants, suggest that INSL3 is a risk factor out of 8 of the 9 pathologies considered (including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease. Only depression seems excluded).
The next step is to understand which factors, such as early childhood nutrition or environmental pollution, may affect INSL3 levels in the blood.
If the link between the INSL3 hormone and these health risks is confirmed by further studies (and perhaps the reason why the link exists is identified) there will be one of the sparks that I was just talking for two days ago about the challenge of aging.
