Tests

• Saliva Hormone Test
  • Adrenal Panel
  • Female Panel
  • Male Panel
  • Month-Long Assessment
  • Melatonin-Cortisol
  • Collection Instructions
  • Sample Report
• Estrogen Metabolism
  • Collection Instructions
  • Sample Report
• Urinary Thyroid
  • Collection Instructions
  • Sample Report
• Diatest
  • Collection Instructions
  • Sample Report
• Food Allergy
  • Sample Report
  • Allergens
  • AllerGSpot Allergen List
  • Collection Instructions
• Essential Fatty Acids
  • Sample Report
• Hair Element Analysis
• Urine Elements
• LPP
• MNT
• Telomere

Male Panel

Four hormones make up the Male Panel: testosterone, estradiol, DHEA-S and cortisol. Interactions between these hormones are fundamental to health and, as a consequence, imbalances may negatively impact health. Progesterone levels are generally not useful in men, although if men are exposed to progesterone cream through skin to skin transfer from a partner, there can be significant accumulation and testosterone deficiency symptoms may ensue.

Testosterone

• Production of testosterone is stimulated by luteinizing hormone (LH).
• Low testosterone levels may be a result of decreased hormone production or due to increased conversion of testosterone to estradiol via the aromatase enzyme.

Estradiol

• The brain regulates LH output via estradiol levels. If estradiol is high, LH shuts down and testosterone production declines.
• Excess estradiol can compete with testosterone at gene response sites, and thus interfere with the message testosterone is trying to deliver.

Testosterone/Estradiol Ratio

• Our laboratory data shows that the ratio of testosterone to estradiol for a 20 year old man is between 20 and 40. A decrease in the T/E2 ratio is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
• The aromatase enzyme that converts testosterone to estradiol is found in adipose fat cells. Men with central adiposity or high cortisol levels may have more aromatase activity and therefore convert more testosterone to estradiol.

Cortisol

• Cortisol and testosterone deliver opposing messages to many of the same genes. Consequently, when cortisol levels are high, men with normal testosterone levels may have symp-
  toms of testosterone deficiency because the elevated cortisol interferes with the testosterone message. This results in a functional deficiency; where the system has normal levels of testosterone, but functions as if there is not enough.
• High cortisol can induce aromatase, which speeds the conversion of testosterone to estradiol, resulting in elevated estradiol levels.
• Excess cortisol is catabolic for bone and also opposes the action of testosterone, which is anabolic for bone. Thus, significant bone loss may occur with elevated cortisol levels.
• Over time, high cortisol levels may exhaust the adrenal glands and result in decreased cortisol output.

DHEA-S

• DHEA is stored in the blood mainly in its sulphate form, DHEA-S.
• Cortisol and DHEA have opposite effects on immune function and insulin regulation.
• High cortisol levels mean more DHEA must be released to balance effects of cortisol therefore, chronically elevated cortisol can result in a deficiency of DHEA.
  The ratio of cortisol to DHEA-S increases with age, mostly because of declining DHEA levels. ZRT Laboratory data shows the ratio at age 20 is 0.6, age 45 is 1.0, age 60 is 1.5, and age 75 is 2.3.
• Low DHEA-S levels may be associated with hypothyroidism, depression, and chronic fatigue.

    

Hormone	Low Levels	High Levels
Estradiol	nutritional supplements supplements to boost estrogen production boron periodic monitoring of bone density in the face of low estradiol may be advisable	nutritional supplements zinc may slow conversion of testosterone to estradiol via aromatase chrysin may decrease aromatization of testosterone to estradiol reduce estrogen formation prescription aromatase inhibitors like letrozole and anastrozole decrease conversion of testosterone to estradiol (not an approved indication) reduce cortisol levels, as cortisol drives aromatase expression weight loss reduces aromatase activity optimize liver function
Testosterone	nutritional supplements zinc may slow conversion of testosterone to estradiol via aromatase reduce cortisol levels, as cortisol induces aromatase and conversion of testosterone to estradiol prescription aromatase inhibitors like letrozole and anastrozole inhibit conversion of testosterone to estradiol. testosterone supplementation rule out pituitary problems	prolonged excessive testosterone supplementation may result in androgen receptor down-regulation and symptoms of testosterone deficiency reduce dose of testosterone saliva testosterone levels are above or at high end of range and symptoms of excess (or deficiency) are present a significantly elevated endogenous testosterone level may require referral for an endocrine evaluation
DHEA-S	adrenal support adaptogenic herbs DHEA supplementation oral, sublingual: minimum dose to relieve symptoms and stay within range low DHEA may be associated with hypothyroidism	prolonged excessive DHEA supplementation may result in androgen receptor down-regulation and symptoms of androgen deficiency reduce dose of DHEA
Cortisol	assess diurnal cortisol via an Adrenal Function Panel or 4-pt cortisol saliva test cortisol supplementation short term supplementation may be necessary in some cases (see TheSafeUsesof Cortisol by William Jeffries). nutritional supplements adaptogenic herbs see Adrenal Function Panel Clinical Info sheet assess sleep: low morning cortisol is associated with insomnia	assess diurnal cortisol via an Adrenal Function Panel or 4-pt cortisol saliva test nutritional supplements cortisol lowering supplements adrenal support protocol (see Adrenal Function Panel Clinical Info Sheet) assess sleep: difficulty sleeping may be a result of high bedtime cortisol weight loss: elevated cortisol is associated with weight gain

 

 * Note that high saliva hormone levels may result if a man has skin to skin contact with someone using transdermal hormones.  For example, a man whose wife uses transdermal estradiol and/or progesterone may report high saliva estradiol and/or progesterone.