Latest Endocrine Society Stories

Long-term cortisol exposure in seniors linked to heart disease, stroke Hair strands contain valuable information about senior citizens' stress levels that can be used to determine an individual's cardiovascular disease risk, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). Unlike a blood test that captures a snapshot of stress hormone levels at a single point in time, a scalp hair analysis can be...

Study results suggest combination treatments may be needed to stop bone loss, fuel growth Although the drug zoledronic acid slows bone loss in osteoporosis patients, it also boosts levels of a biomarker that stops bone formation, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). Osteoporosis weakens bones and increases the risk patients will suffer fractures. The findings suggest combination therapy...

Interventions to physicians and patients improve osteoporosis treatment at low cost Reminding primary care doctors to test at-risk patients for osteoporosis can prevent fractures and reduce health care costs, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). Osteoporosis is a condition that is common, costly and undertreated. Low trauma fractures in older individuals are a "red flag" for...

Study also finds osteoporosis associated with early menopause Chinese women are less likely to develop cardiovascular disease if they have their first menstrual cycle or enter menopause later than their peers, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). The study also found earlier onset of menopause was associated with a higher risk of developing osteoporosis. The risk was significantly lower...

Genetic insulin secretion defect linked to rapid onset of type 2 diabetes after birth Women who were diagnosed with gestational diabetes during pregnancy face a significantly higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in the future, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). The prospective cohort study tracked 843 women who were diagnosed with gestational diabetes between 1996 and 2003 at...

Study finds African-American, Caucasian women absorb, metabolize vitamin D at same rate African-American women battling vitamin D deficiencies need the same dose as Caucasian women to treat the condition, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). Although women with darker skin tones tend to have lower levels of the biomarker used to measure Vitamin D levels, called 25-hydroxyvitamin D or...

Study finds reduced insulin effectiveness, higher blood pressure in first-born children Long a source of sibling rivalry, birth order may raise the risk of first-born children developing diabetes or high blood pressure, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). First-born children have greater difficulty absorbing sugars into the body and have higher daytime blood pressure than children who...

Early detection, treatment needed to reduce risk of death, cardiovascular disease Even after successful treatment, patients with Cushing's disease who were older when diagnosed or had prolonged exposure to excess cortisol face a greater risk of dying or developing cardiovascular disease, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). Cushing's disease is a rare condition where the body is exposed...

High hormone levels signal increased likelihood of pregnancy, birth Women with a high concentration of anti-Müllerian hormone stand a better chance of giving birth after in vitro fertilization, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is produced by the ovaries. The study found women with high AMH levels were 2.5 times more likely to have a successful IVF...

New study shows intake of olive oil associated with increase in bone formation markers A study to be published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM) shows consumption of a Mediterranean diet enriched with olive oil for two years is associated with increased serum osteocalcin concentrations, suggesting a protective effect on bone. Age-related bone mass loss and decreased bone strength affects women and men alike are an important determinant of...