All articles tagged: Endocrinology & Metabolism

A study performed in mice has uncovered a potential new tool to combat the escalating issue of childhood obesity. The research suggests that a simple dietary change, in the form of a fish oil supplement taken by fathers, might help address this pressing health concern.

Hepatic lipid homeostasis is critical for both cellular function and overall metabolic health. Disruptions in lipid homeostasis can lead to fatty liver diseases, which have become a significant global health concern. The evolving nomenclature and understanding of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have prompted renewed interest in its underlying mechanisms and broader metabolic implications

While white fat stores calories, brown fat burns them. A new study, appearing in the journal Cell, reveals that brown fat improves metabolic health by providing nutrients important to other organs, rather than warming up body temperature.

Hyperuricemia (HU) is diagnosed when the levels of urate in the blood exceed 420 μmol/L, the saturated concentration of urate. In mainland China, the prevalence of HU exceeds 17.7% in the adult population, affecting over 185 million individuals.

Among transgender and gender-diverse adults whose gender identity is nonbinary—not exclusively male or female—and who choose low-dose hormone treatment, most prefer to continue testosterone therapy at lower-than-recommended doses after at least six months of treatment, a new study finds. The study was presented at ENDO 2024, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Boston, Mass.

Children who are sedentary for more than six waking hours a day have a significantly increased risk of severe fatty liver disease and liver cirrhosis by young adulthood, a new study finds. The research findings will be presented on Saturday at ENDO 2024, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Boston, Mass and published in Nature's npj Gut and Liver.

Transgender individuals often face unique challenges in aligning their physical bodies with their true gender identity. Among the various methods employed, gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) stands as a vital means for transgender men to achieve physical changes in consonance with their gender identity.

University of Saskatchewan (USask) research, which has been published in Communications Biology, highlights the discovery of the lipid-lowering effects of nesfatin-1-like peptide (NLP). This newly identified peptide—or small protein—is a close relative of nesfatin-1 (NESF-1), which regulates feed intake and body weight.

Brown fat metabolism decreases in older men and women, but the decrease in women is not necessarily tied to age, according to new research. The first-of-its-kind study is published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism.

A research team identified a novel mechanism by which the body regulates oxidative stress pressure, offering new insights into how cells respond to oxidative stress. The study is published in Nature Communications.

A new research paper titled "The impact of continuous and intermittent ketogenic diets on cognitive behavior, motor function, and blood lipids in TgF344-AD rats" has been published in Aging.

Recent research underscores the critical role of adipocytes in storing fat, vital for organismal survival. Dysfunctional adipocytes can lead to metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease, highlighting the importance of understanding lipid storage mechanisms.

Replacing sugar with artificial and natural sweeteners in foods does not make people hungrier—and also helps to reduce blood sugar levels, a new study has found.

Cortisol, also commonly known as the stress hormone, belongs to the family of glucocorticoids. In addition to its physiological function, synthetic derivatives of cortisol are also used as anti-inflammatory drugs. In the cell, the hormone acts by binding to the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which then acts as a transcription factor to regulate the activity of certain target genes.

Postnatal growth retardation (PGR) is characterized by poor production performance, low feed conversion rate, and a high mortality rate, the metabolic basis of which in piglets is unclear.

New findings reveal that the body undergoes significant, systematic changes across multiple organs during prolonged periods of fasting. The results demonstrate evidence of health benefits beyond weight loss, but also show that any potentially health-altering changes appear to occur only after three days without food.

The gut microbiome interacts with the loss of female sex hormones to exacerbate metabolic disease, including weight gain, fat in the liver and the expression of genes linked with inflammation, researchers found in a new rodent study.

Correct development of testes in a male fetus—and fertility later in life—depend on a crucial hormone being at just the right level.

Researchers at the University of Toronto have found that palmitic acid, one of the most common fats in human milk, meats, and dairy products, is made by the liver and sent to the developing brain when it's low in the diet.

Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder that triggers the thyroid gland to produce more thyroid hormones than the body needs. It's the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid.

Head hair comes in many colors, shapes and sizes, and hairstyles are often an expression of personal style or cultural identity.

After years of debilitating bouts of fatigue, Beth VanOrden finally thought she had an answer to her problems in 2016 when she was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease, an autoimmune disorder.

A common concern about gender-affirming hormone therapy for transmasculine people is the risk of red blood cell volume changes and erythrocytosis, a high concentration of red blood cells, with the use of prescribed testosterone. However, Mount Sinai researchers have found that testosterone treatment may be safer than previously reported, with results published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinol

Untreated hyperthyroidism, conditions where there is excess thyroid hormone present, can adversely affect health, leading to increased risks for abnormal heart rhythms, heart failure, osteoporosis, adverse pregnancy outcomes, metabolic abnormalities and increased mortality risk.

The number of hours of light exposure we experience affects how we eat and how we burn energy. This may help us understand the link between seasons and metabolism.

It seems counter-intuitive for women to experience hot flashes in cold temperatures but, thanks to declining estrogen levels that cause narrowing of the thermoneutral zone, changes in body core temperature can induce sweating responses in any weather.

Michael Jackson may have sung "it don't matter if you're black or white," but when it comes to prescribing hormone therapy, it appears that race may definitely matter. That is according to a new study, presented at the 2023 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society in Philadelphia September 27–30, that found even though Black patients have more menopause symptoms, they receive less treatment.

Not so long ago, young adults were the primary users of cannabis. The reality today, however, is that women and adults aged 50+ represent the fastest growing group of users. A study, presented during the 2023 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society in Philadelphia September 27–30, confirms the frequent use of cannabis by midlife women to manage an array of menopause symptoms.

Unwanted weight gain is a common problem associated with the menopause transition. Not only does it harm a woman's self-esteem, but it is also associated with the development of heart disease, cancer, and declines in cognition and mental health. Tips for managing weight during midlife are provided as part of a presentation at the 2023 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society in Philadelphia Septemb