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Though widely known as the "sleep hormone," melatonin's exact role in sleep is far from fully understood. We know of many links between melatonin and sleep: the hormone's levels rise at night and fall during the day, regulated by the same circadian rhythms that help govern sleep. Disruptions in melatonin levels go hand in hand with sleep problems. But how, exactly does melatonin influence sleep, and our sleep and wake cycles? That, we do not yet really understand. Scientists at Caltech sought to find out more about melatonin's precise role in sleep, and recently shared their results. Their fin....More Info

In women of advanced reproductive age, supplementation with DHEA  (dehydroepiandrosterone) may improve chances for achieving pregnancy, according to findings from an in vitro study published in Fertility and Sterility. "A fertilized egg will implant only if the conditions are just right, and we were excited to see that [dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA] and androgens might help improve this environment in cells,” Douglas A. Gibson, PhD, of the MRC Centre for Inflammation Research at the University of Edinburgh, said in a press release. “The findings will help us develop studies....More Info

Human growth hormone (hGH) is a proteohormone secreted by the pituitary gland. It acts through binding to the hGH receptor, inducing either direct effects or initiating the production of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). HGH (Human growth hormone) has several legitimate medical uses. It's a treatment for dwarfism in children and Turner's syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting girls that is caused by a missing or incomplete X chromosome. On an experimental basis, it's been used successfully to treat children who have been badly burned and AIDS patients with excessive abdominal fat. HGH is a....More Info

Testosterone is the male sex hormone that is made in the testicles. Testosterone hormone levels are important to normal male sexual development and functions. Many of our male patients complain that life has lost some of its vibrancy over the years. Men ranging from their 30s to their 60s come to us wanting to know why they feel like something is missing, something they can’t necessarily put a finger on. During puberty, testosterone helps boys develop male features like body and facial hair, deeper voice, and muscle strength. Men need testosterone to make sperm. Testosterone levels gener....More Info

As the country continues to deal with COVID-19 in the absence of effective treatments, attention has focused on modalities that may help boost the immune system. A recent review examined the possible role of nutrition or diet components in COVID-19. Patients infected with SAR-CoV-2 who are vitamin D–deficient do not fare as well as those who are vitamin D–replete, which has led investigators to consider the possible immunomodulatory role of vitamin D. Vitamin D’s potential benefit stems from its ability to stimulate the expression of antimicrobial peptides, which help maintai....More Info

Several recent studies have looked at the impact of vitamin D on COVID-19. One study of 489 people found that those who had a vitamin D deficiency were more likely to test positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 than people who had normal levels of vitamin D. Other research has observed high rates of vitamin D deficiency in people with COVID-19 who experienced acute respiratory failure. These people had a significantly higher risk of dying. And a small, randomized study found that of 50 people hospitalized with COVID-19 who were given a high dose of a type of vitamin D (calcifediol), only ....More Info