Regulatory Modifications of Steroidogenesis following the Administration of Embryonary Peptides

Regulatory modifications of steroidogenesis were induced following the administration on rats and humans of a nutritive supplement, Humanofort, containing two embryonary peptides (EP) of 5 and 10 kDa. The administration of EP to rats for 60 days increased significantly the urinary excretion of 17-ketosteroids in all animals. The serum cholesterol increased only in females, by ~50%, this increase being associated with triggering the oestral cycle. The administration of EP to 30 young sportsmen (rugby players) for three weeks increased significantly serum androgen hormones (dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone, androstenedione). The administration of EP to 40 old subjects, between 50 and 75 years of age (22 women and 18 men), induced adaptive-regulatory modifications of several steroids (cholesterol, testosterone, cortisol) towards physiological limits. In all subjects, the initial values of total cholesterol and LDL fraction exceeded the physiological range. After the administration of EP, these compounds decreased by ~30% in all subjects. Urinary 17-ketosteroids and some serum hormones (dehydroepiandrosterone, cortisol, testosterone) were significantly modified in ~70% of the subjects. At the end of the study, the levels of these hormones were within physiological range. The adaptive-regulation of steroidogenesis following the administration of EP depends on subjects’ age, gender and initial biochemical status. An involvement of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis is strongly credited.