Prolactin and gluten????

[Guest guest]

OK, now I thought this was just too interesting. Seems like elevated

prolactin is associated with celiac disease (and by extension, with

gluten intolerance in general???). It also stimulates breast growth

(there is a great picture in the second link!) and may be associated

with breast cancer. It also can cause lack of menstruation and

infertility in men.

Sheesh, this could be a big " missing link. " Gluten intolerant folks

are more prone to cancer, but there hasn't been a clear cause

of why.

-- The Glutenator

------------------------------------

The researchers report in the February issue of the Journal of Tropical

Pediatrics that serum prolactin levels were significantly elevated in children

with

active celiac disease. Mean prolactin levels were 48.3 ng/mL in active celiac

disease, 18.3 ng/mL in children in remission and 9.3 ng/mL in controls.

Prolactin levels were higher among those with long standing disease, with

mean levels of over 75 ng/mL recorded among those with celiac disease for more

than 5 years. Levels also positively correlated with the severity of villous

atrophy, the pathognomic feature of celiac disease, the investigators point out.

The researchers conclude that serum prolactin, because of its positive

correlation with disease activity, can be used as an " additional marker of

disease

activity...and may be a more viable option economically " than use of other

markers http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/471665?mpid=26286

lie (NJ)

----------------------------------

http://arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/hypopit/prolactin.html

Physiologic Effects of Prolactin

The conventional view of prolactin is that its major target organ is the mammary

gland, and stimulating mammary gland development and milk production pretty well

define its functions. Such a picture is true as far as goes, but it fails to

convey an accurate depiction of this multifunctional hormone.

It is difficult to point to a tissue that does not express prolactin receptors,

and although the anterior pituitary is the major source of prolactin, the

hormone is synthesized and secreted in many other tissues. Overall, several

hundred different actions have been reported for prolactin in various species.

Some of its major effects are summarized here.

.....

Common manifestations of hyperprolactinemia in women include amenorrhea (lack of

menstrural cycles) and galactorrhea (excessive or spontaneous secretion of

milk). Men with hyperprolactinemia typically show hypogonadism, with decreased

sex drive, decreased sperm production and impotence. Such men also often show

breast enlargement (gynecomastia), but very rarely produce milk.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://mammary.nih.gov/reviews/tumorigenesis/Vonderhaar001/index.html

One of the most intriguing questions in mammary gland biology is why prolactin

(PRL) which is clearly involved in normal breast development in rodents and

humans, and clearly plays a role in rodent mammary cancer [1, 2] has not been

accepted as a player in human breast cancer. For any hormone, such as estrogen,

to be accepted as playing a role in breast cancer, three criteria are applied.

First, there must be specific receptors for the hormone on the cancer cells.

Second, the hormone must induce a biological response. Third, the course of the

disease must be altered when the action of the hormone is specifically inhibited

at the target (as is the case with antiestrogens and estrogen effects), or the

source of the hormone is removed, ie. through ovariectomy. When these same

criteria are applied to PRL, a role for this hormone in breast cancer can be

argued.

----------

[Guest guest]

Oh this makes me feel great! *L*

My mother had breast cancer at 43...I'm nearing 30. I have taken the BC for

years, though I did nurse two children, plus I'm overweight...now I can add

gluten to the list? **L** LOVELY!!! Makes me even more glad that I had 3/4 of

my breasts surgically removed.

Maire

Prolactin and gluten????

OK, now I thought this was just too interesting. Seems like elevated

prolactin is associated with celiac disease (and by extension, with

gluten intolerance in general???). It also stimulates breast growth

(there is a great picture in the second link!) and may be associated

with breast cancer. It also can cause lack of menstruation and

infertility in men.

Sheesh, this could be a big " missing link. " Gluten intolerant folks

are more prone to cancer, but there hasn't been a clear cause

of why.

-- The Glutenator

------------------------------------

The researchers report in the February issue of the Journal of Tropical

Pediatrics that serum prolactin levels were significantly elevated in children

with

active celiac disease. Mean prolactin levels were 48.3 ng/mL in active celiac

disease, 18.3 ng/mL in children in remission and 9.3 ng/mL in controls.

Prolactin levels were higher among those with long standing disease, with

mean levels of over 75 ng/mL recorded among those with celiac disease for more

than 5 years. Levels also positively correlated with the severity of villous

atrophy, the pathognomic feature of celiac disease, the investigators point

out.

The researchers conclude that serum prolactin, because of its positive

correlation with disease activity, can be used as an " additional marker of

disease

activity...and may be a more viable option economically " than use of other

markers http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/471665?mpid=26286

lie (NJ)

----------------------------------

http://arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/hypopit/prolactin.html

Physiologic Effects of Prolactin

The conventional view of prolactin is that its major target organ is the

mammary gland, and stimulating mammary gland development and milk production

pretty well define its functions. Such a picture is true as far as goes, but it

fails to convey an accurate depiction of this multifunctional hormone.

It is difficult to point to a tissue that does not express prolactin

receptors, and although the anterior pituitary is the major source of prolactin,

the hormone is synthesized and secreted in many other tissues. Overall, several

hundred different actions have been reported for prolactin in various species.

Some of its major effects are summarized here.

....

Common manifestations of hyperprolactinemia in women include amenorrhea (lack

of menstrural cycles) and galactorrhea (excessive or spontaneous secretion of

milk). Men with hyperprolactinemia typically show hypogonadism, with decreased

sex drive, decreased sperm production and impotence. Such men also often show

breast enlargement (gynecomastia), but very rarely produce milk.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://mammary.nih.gov/reviews/tumorigenesis/Vonderhaar001/index.html

One of the most intriguing questions in mammary gland biology is why prolactin

(PRL) which is clearly involved in normal breast development in rodents and

humans, and clearly plays a role in rodent mammary cancer [1, 2] has not been

accepted as a player in human breast cancer. For any hormone, such as estrogen,

to be accepted as playing a role in breast cancer, three criteria are applied.

First, there must be specific receptors for the hormone on the cancer cells.

Second, the hormone must induce a biological response. Third, the course of the

disease must be altered when the action of the hormone is specifically inhibited

at the target (as is the case with antiestrogens and estrogen effects), or the

source of the hormone is removed, ie. through ovariectomy. When these same

criteria are applied to PRL, a role for this hormone in breast cancer can be

argued.

----------