12 



NUTRITIONAL EFFECTS ON ENDOCRINE 

 SECRETIONS 



James H. Leathern, Ph.D. 



PROFESSOR OF ZOOLOGY, RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY, 

 NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY 



I. Introduction' 666 I, Introduction 



II. Nature of Problems in Nutritional -j-. -, .^ ^ ,• ,• t , 



Studies 668 Despite the accumulation of many data 



A. Thyroid Cxland, Nutrition, and Re- in the field of reproductive endocrinology 



production ()68 during the past 20 years and the long es- 



B. Adreiial Gland, Nutrition, and Re- ^ _^ tablished awareness of a nutritional in- 



C. Diabetef^Mellitus, Nutrition, and '' ^f^f on fertility and fecundity, knowl- 



Reproduction ()72 edge bearing on nutrition and the endocrine 



D. Sterile-Obese Syndrome 673 glands subserving reproduction has ad- 



E. Diet and the Liver 673 vanced comparatively slowly. However, re- 



III. Hypophysis and Diet 674 markable advances have been made in each 



A. Inanition 674 speciality SO that nutritional-endocrine 



^roein. .. w problems should continue to be a fruitful 



C. Carbohvdrate and Fat ()7() ^ „ ^i-r^x i-ii 



D Vitamins 676 ^^^^^ ^^^' ^tudy. Data which have yet to 



IV. Male Reproductive System (i77 be obtained eventually w'ill contribute to 



A. Testis 677 the coherence one would prefer to present 



1. Inanition 677 now. 



2. Protein 678 'y\^q endocrinologist appreciates the deli- 



4 Vitamins (i8() ^^^^ balance which exists between the hy- 



B. Influence of Nutrition on the Respon- ' pophysis and the gonads. In a sense, a simi- 



siveness of Male Reproductive Tis- lar interdependence exists between nutrition 



sues to Hormones 681 and the endocrine glands, including those 



1. Testis ■ . . 681 ^j^|-^ reproductive functions. Not only does 



2. feeminal vesicles and i)rostate 682 x •<• • n xi • j i -• 



V. Female Reproductive System 683 nutrition influence synthesis and release of 



A. Ovaries 683 hormones, but hormones in turn, through 



1. Inanition 683 their regulation of the metabolism of pro- 



2. Protein 684 teins, carbohydrates, and fats, influence nu- 



3. Carbohydrate 685 trition. Thus, dietary deficiencies may create 



5 Vitamins 685 endocrine imbalance, and endocrine imbal- 



B. Influence of Nutrition on the ResiK)n- '^^ce may create demands for dietary fac- 



siveness of Female Pe])ro<luct ive tors. It follows, therefore, that, in any con- 

 Tissues to Hormones 687 sideration of this interrelationship, one must 



1 . Ovary ... 687 consider not only undernutrition and lack of 



2. uterus and vagina 688 -n c j \ l ^ i ^ cc i. r 



3. Mammary gland 689 specific foods, but also possible effects of 



C. Pregnancy. . 689 antithyroid substanccs in foods, antimetab- 



VI. Concluding Remarks 693 olites, and overnutrition, especially for the 



VII.Pkferencks (;!)4 child (Forbes, 1957). 



666 



