Cortisol is a hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex, commonly referred to as the “stress hormone” due to its role in the body’s stress response. It accounts for over 80% of the total concentration of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids in the blood. Most cortisol in the blood is bound to transcortin (corticosteroid-binding globulin, CBG) and albumin (around 90%)....
Chromium is rarely mentioned when discussing daily supplementation, yet it plays a vital role in the body. What exactly is chromium’s function, in what concentrations is it found in the body, and how can we ensure an adequate intake? Chromium is a mineral that exists in two forms: trivalent and hexavalent chromium. Hexavalent chromium is...
Prolactin (PRL, PRH), also known as luteotropic hormone (LTH), is secreted by the mammotropic cells of the adenohypophysis (anterior pituitary gland). It is responsible for breast growth and lactation during pregnancy and after childbirth. During breastfeeding, the baby’s contact with the nipple triggers the secretion of a hormone called oxytocin in the mother’s body, produced...
Urea is often marked as BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) in medical practice. Measuring urea is a common routine lab test, providing essential information about kidney and liver function. When proteins are broken down in the liver, they produce amino acids. Further breakdown of these amino acids generates ammonia, a toxic gas. The body removes ammonia...
What is Clostridium? When we mention Clostridium, we primarily refer to Clostridium difficile, one of the seven Clostridium subspecies. These are groups of anaerobic, rod-shaped, gram-positive bacteria, typically harmless to humans and classified as saprophytes. However, Clostridium difficile is a common hospital-acquired infection, although it can also develop at home. It is the most frequent...
What is Histamine? Histamine was first pharmacologically described as an endogenous substance in 1910. It is a biogenic amine synthesized by decarboxylation from an amino acid called histidine. In humans, histamine is a crucial mediator of biological responses, playing a role in the early stages of anaphylactic reactions (immediate-type allergies). How is Histamine Formed? Histamine...
Hypoglycemia Hypoglycemia is a condition characterized by low blood sugar (glucose) levels. A drop in blood sugar can result from fasting, prolonged physical activity, or can occur after waking up, before meals (on an empty stomach), or even a few hours after an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Each cause requires a specific approach and...
What Do We Know About Vitamin C? Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, was recognized long before it was discovered and isolated through its effects in treating scurvy. Scurvy, a disease caused by severe vitamin C deficiency, led to symptoms such as bleeding gums, anemia, slow wound healing, and bruising. Among various attempted treatments,...
What are Androgen Hormones? Androgen hormones are sex hormones often referred to as “male hormones.” The term originates from the Greek words ἀνδρός (andros, meaning “man”) and γένος (genos, meaning “male”). Androgens are produced in the testes, ovaries, and adrenal glands and serve as precursors to estrogenic hormones in women. Which Hormones are Classified as...
What is Calprotectin? Calprotectin is a protein found in large amounts in human intestines, specifically within a type of white blood cell (a type of leukocyte – neutrophils), particularly when an inflammatory process is present in the intestines. It is produced as part of the body’s immune response to inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Why...
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