Xanya Sofra-Weiss, Ph.D & Ali Mohamed, M.D.
Individual phenotypic differences result in a variation of T4 to Free T3 conversion. Free T3 stimulates lipolysis. This leads to polymorphic and individualized lipid deposition patterns. Hyperthyroidism is associated with weight loss via an increase in metabolic rate and lipolysis. Hypothyroidism, on the other hand, is associated with weight gain via a decrease in metabolic rate.
A literature review by Guillermo et al (2003) has shown that the risk of thyroid dysfunction in Diabetic patients is two- to threefold higher than in the general population. A number of studies have shown that thyroid hormones represented by serum total T3 and T4 concentrations and serum Free T3 and T4 concentrations were significantly lower in obese non-insulin-dependent diabetics than control subjects. Low T3 is also a strong predictor of mortality in cardiac patients and may be directly implicated in the poor prognosis of cardiac patients.
The biological functions of GF (GH) are carried out by Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1). IGF-1 is the key determinant of somatic growth. It regulates puberty and gonadal function, and influences body composition as well as structural and functional maintenance of adult tissues. Loss of skeletal muscle mass, increased adiposity, and other unwelcome accompaniments of aging have been linked to age-related decline in pituitary GF secretion. On this basis, administration of GH is often advocated as an “anti-aging” therapy. However, administration of GF has a number of adverse side effects such as Diabetes, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, joint and muscle pain, fluid retention, High Blood Pressure, etc. (Hintz, 2004). In addition, mutant GF deficient animals have demonstrated prolonged longevity (Corpas et al, 1993). Recent research in humans (Hoeijmakers et al, 2008) has shown that GF and IGF-1 may be associated with aging as a result of the system’s tendency to focus on growth, which diminishes its capacity to invest in maintenance and repair, i.e. “the survival response.”
Xanya Sofra Weiss
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