Too Much Sugar Affects Sex Hormones, Causes Health Problems

New research performed at the Child & Family Research Institute in Vancouver, Canada has pinpointed health problems related to eating too much sugar. Eating too much sugar effects the testosterone and estrogen levels in the body.

Researchers have discovered that eating too much of both fructose and glucose turns off the gene that controls the levels of testosterone and estrogen working inside the body. The researchers estimate that each person in North Americans eats around 33 kg of refined sugar and 20 kg of fructose in the form of corn syrup per year. Table sugar is generally made from glucose and fructose. Plus fructose corn syrup is used in sodas and other sweetened beverages, syrups and low-fat products.

Both glucose and fructose are processed and turned into energy in the liver. If too much sugar is consumed, then the liver converts the sugar into fats, otherwise called lipids.

During the course of the study, the researchers used mice as models and also human liver cell cultures. The researchers learned that when lipid is produced in excess, the lipid turns off the SHBG gene, otherwise called the sex hormone binding globulin gene. This gene produces a protein that binds to the sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen and carries them into the bloodstream. Only the hormones that are free and unattached to the protein can enter cells and be active. Hence, if the SHBG gene is shut down and is not releasing any SHBG protein, then greater amounts of estrogen and testosterone are released throughout the body.

The increase of these hormones is responsible for problems like acne, infertility, polycystic ovaries, also uterine cancer, which is particularly a problem in overweight women. Also, when SHBG amounts are low it will disrupt the balance between estrogen and testosterone. The imbalance of these hormones can lead to cardiovascular disease, particularly in women.

The researcher's study shows that low levels of SHBG in the bloodstream indicates that a person's liver is not metabolizing as it should, either because the person is eating a poor diet, or their something amiss with the person's liver. The levels of SHBG will indicate that something is amiss well before any disease symptoms will occur.

The study has proven to be groundbreaking because doctors and scientists can now use SHBG as a biomarker for indicating how the liver is functioning. They can also use SHBG for indicating how effective a diet plan is and how effective drugs are for changing the liver's metabolic state. Until now, SHBG measurement has only been used to show how much free testosterone an individual has in her bloodstream, which a key element for diagnosing hormonal disorders like polycystic ovaries. They also use measurements of SHBG levels for determining if a person is at risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The research was lead by Dr. Geoffrey Hammond, the scientific director of the Child and Family Research Institute. Dr. Hammond is also professor at the University of British Columbia in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Jennifer Kohm, "Too much sugar turns off gene that controls the effects of sex steroids," Child & Family Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada.