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Peripheral hormone levels in healthy subjects during controlled fasting
Acta Endocrinologica
|November 1, 1986
Summary
Controlled fasting significantly altered hormone levels in healthy subjects, increasing cortisol and albumin while decreasing prolactin and thyroid hormones (T3). Sex hormone binding globulin rose, reducing free testosterone.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Human Physiology
- Metabolic Research
Background:
- Fasting is a common practice with known metabolic effects.
- Hormonal responses to fasting require further elucidation, particularly concerning sex hormones and binding proteins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of controlled fasting on serum hormone levels, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and albumin in healthy individuals.
- To explore potential correlations between hormonal changes and protein binding alterations during fasting.
Main Methods:
- Healthy subjects underwent one week of controlled fluid intake (3L/day) with 50g carbohydrates.
- Serum levels of various hormones (prolactin, T3, TSH, FSH, LH, androgens, oestrone, testosterone), SHBG, and albumin were measured.
- Correlations between albumin and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Fasting decreased prolactin and triiodothyronine (T3) levels.
- Cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), and albumin levels increased.
- Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels increased rapidly, decreasing free testosterone percentages and calculated free testosterone levels in both sexes.
Conclusions:
- Fasting can lead to decreased metabolic clearance of steroids like cortisol and DHEA-S, potentially due to increased protein binding.
- Increased protein binding of testosterone may occur, but unchanged total testosterone levels suggest a concurrent decrease in gonadal production.
- Elevated SHBG levels during fasting are not explained by changes in gonadal or thyroid hormones.