Dear Colleagues,

Diet is important when it comes to hormones because the energy and nutrients you obtain from food represent the raw materials to produce hormones and fuel your body. For example, all steroid hormones (>5 classes) are derived from cholesterol, which is mainly obtained from one’s diet. Hormonal changes influence all of us at every stage of life, and the effect is definitely variable between individuals. A huge number of clinical studies and hormonal research have now associated plant-based diet intake (especially rich in Polyphenols) with various beneficial health and biological activities. Functional foods and supplements have been found to reduce risk of chronic diseases, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative disorders, and some cancers. The pleiotropic effects of these polyphenols were evident as to their role in redox modulation and inflammatory processes, molecular signalling, stem cell proliferation and differentiation, metabolism regulation and hormonal imbalance, potential effect in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, in addition to their known protective effects in lowering cardiovascular disease risk factors and blood pressure through their antioxidant properties. The mechanisms for the biological actions of diet and its active natural components have been mainly attributed to their multiple actions affecting various cellular and hormonal pathways. For example, the mechanisms by which natural products could exert their antihypertensive effect have shown a multiplicity of actions (e.g., increased NO production, inhibition of renin release and ACE activity, angiotensin receptor and calcium channel blockade, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and opioid agonistic effect). In addition, we have shown that polyphenols-rich pomegranate, dark chocolate, and green coffee can inhibit 11B-HSD1 activity, thereby improving mood and reducing stress by causing a reduction in blood pressure and the levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

A well-balanced diet has an enormous impact on many hormonal systems and aspects of our health, and a consensus about how and what to eat remains elusive. There are several factors related to diet that may cause hormonal imbalance and thus disease—for example, food allergy, overweight and obesity, inflammation caused by poor diet and sedentary lifestyle, sleeping patterns, digestive issues, and others. Researchers are now suggesting that circulating substances derived from the diet may exert direct and indirect actions to activate receptors and signalling pathways as well as providing fuel and micronutrients. Therefore, food may be considered as a cocktail of “hormones”. For example, high-fat diets cause weight gain by activating specific fatty acid receptors in the brain, and there is evidence that some dietary fatty acids also modify the actions of classical hormones such as ghrelin. Ghrelin can increase food intake and weight gain by binding to its receptor, growth hormone secretagogue receptor. However, for ghrelin to signal effectively, a fatty acid must first be attached to the peptide as a side chain.

Topics that are relevant to this Special Issue include all research topics related to the relationship of the diet and hormonal synthesis, release, metabolism, and action. The following are examples for interested authors:

1. Cancer, diet, and hormones;
2. Glucose metabolism, diabetes, hormones, and diet;
3. Stress (acute and chronic), diet, and hormones;
4. Hormonal changes as they relate to cognition, ageing, and diet;
5. Cardiovascular disease, diet, and hormones;
6. Diet and menopause in women;
7. Gut hormones, diet, and brain;
8. Adaptogens, e.g., liquorice and steroid hormones;
9. Hormones and psychology; behaviour, biopsychology and health psychology in relation to Steroid hormones, love hormone (Oxytocin), and others;
10. Vitamin D as a hormone: From vitamin D to hormone D: Fundamentals of the vitamin D endocrine system essential for good health.

Prof. Dr. Emad Al-Dujaili
Guest Editor

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• Diet
• Hormones
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Stress
• Appetite
• Menopause
• Behaviour
• Well-being
• Ageing
• Alzheimer
• Dementia
• Vitamin D