Researchers have uncovered the significant role of INSL3, a hormone that develops in men during puberty, in early prediction of whether they may develop certain diseases later in life.
Scientists from the University of Nottingham in the UK have discovered that the newly identified insulin-like peptide hormone, INSL3, remains stable over long periods and serves as an important early biomarker for predicting age-related diseases. Their latest findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology.
INSL3 is produced by cells in the testes (which also produce testosterone). However, unlike testosterone, which fluctuates throughout a man’s life, INSL3 remains steady, with hormone levels established during puberty changing very little over the lifespan, only declining slightly with age. This makes it the first clear and reliable predictive biomarker for age-related conditions compared to other measurable parameters.
The research results indicate that INSL3 levels in the blood are associated with a range of age-related diseases, including bone fragility, sexual dysfunction, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Low INSL3 Levels
The discovery of this hormone’s stability is significant because it means that men with high INSL3 levels in their youth will maintain high levels as they age. Conversely, men with low INSL3 levels early on will likely have low levels later in life, increasing their risk of developing age-related diseases.
Researchers suggest that this opens up the possibility of predicting aging-related diseases and finding ways to prevent their onset through early interventions.
The research, led by scientists Ravinder Anand-Ivell and Richard Ivell, is the latest of three recent studies on this hormone.
Anand-Ivell commented, “A key goal of aging research is to minimize the health gap as people grow older. Understanding why some people are more prone to illness and health decline with age is vital to developing interventions that ensure people not only live longer but live healthier lives into old age. Our findings on this hormone are an important step in understanding this and will pave the way for helping individuals and alleviating the healthcare crisis society faces.”
Stable Levels of INSL3 Hormone
The research team analyzed blood samples from 3,000 men across eight regional centers in Europe, with two samples taken four years apart. The results showed that, unlike testosterone, INSL3 remains stable in individuals over time.
The study also revealed that even in young, relatively healthy men, there is a wide variation in blood levels of INSL3 across individuals—nearly tenfold.
Ivell stated: “Now that we understand the hormone’s critical role in predicting disease and how it varies among men, we are focusing on identifying the factors that most influence blood levels of INSL3. Early studies suggest that nutrition in early life may play a role, but other factors such as genetics or exposure to certain environmental endocrine disruptors may also contribute to influencing INSL3 levels in the blood.”
Source: Labiotech
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