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Vitamins That Stimulate the Pituitary Glands

Jul 30, 2011 | By Louise Tremblay

Your body contains a number of endocrine glands that work together to maintain a balance of several hormones. Your pituitary gland, a small, pea-shaped gland in your brain, secretes a number of hormones that help control your reproductive health, as well as hormones that signal to other glands throughout your body. A number of vitamins may stimulate pituitary function by helping maintain the health of your pituitary gland.

Vitamin D

One vitamin that can stimulate your pituitary gland is vitamin D, or calcitriol. The cells within your pituitary gland contain a specific protein, the vitamin D receptor, that allows these cells to respond to active vitamin D in your bloodstream. As a result, abnormally high or low levels of vitamin D in your body might affect your pituitary's hormone output. However, the extent to which vitamin D can affect your pituitary gland is not yet fully known.

Vitamin A

Another vitamin that can stimulate your pituitary gland is vitamin A, a family of related chemicals known collectively as retinoids. Maintaining a proper level of vitamin A in your body proves important for pituitary gland function, and a vitamin A deficiency -- combined with iodine deficiency -- can negatively affect your pituitary and thyroid glands, according to study published in "Thyroid" in 2006. If you suffer from an iodine deficiency, talk to your doctor about how to avoid a pituitary- and thyroid-harming vitamin A deficiency.

Vitamin E

Maintaining proper vitamin E levels might also support the function of your pituitary gland, stimulating pituitary hormone output. A study published in the "Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition" in 2009 indicates that vitamin E can help protect the pituitary gland, and other hormone glands, from oxidative damage -- damage associated with the aging process. As a result, deficiencies in vitamin E might increase your risk of decreased pituitary hormone output as you age, whereas adequate vitamin E might help maintain normal pituitary function.

Considerations

While certain vitamins may have the capability to stimulate your pituitary gland, vitamins alone cannot correct or reverse a hormonal imbalance due to a pituitary disorder. If you suffer from a disorder that affects the function of your pituitary gland, seek medical attention to determine the best course of treatment. Do not try to stimulate your pituitary gland with vitamins unless directed by a physician. If you wish to take vitamins to help maintain a healthy pituitary, talk to your doctor about a dosage that is unlikely to cause side effects.

References

Article reviewed by Eric Lochridge Last updated on: Jul 30, 2011

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