Thanks to the many types of hormones in the human body, we can move our muscles and bones to propel our bodies, stimulate our brains to process, store, and recall information, deal with stress, influence reproduction and sex drive, aid digestion and metabolism, and a whole lot more.

How many types of hormones are in the human body and what purpose do they all have?

There are 4 Main Hormone Types:

• Amino Acids
• Eicosanoids
• Peptides
• Steroids

These four types of hormones in the human body and their functions will be highlighted during this report – broken down by the gland or organ that produces them or the type category you will find them in. Hormones are essentially chemical messengers that deliver a particular signal to a designated receptor. They also aid in immune functions, glandular secretions, growth, and contraction of cardiac and smooth muscle.

As we also discuss types of hormones in a human body, we find that some are paracrine hormones (acting on neighboring cells) while others are autocrine hormones (acting on the cells that secreted them).

Then there are the major chemical classes of hormones found in the human body including:

• Lipid -soluble hormones – bind to receptors in cells to create action that alters gene expression to form new proteins that alter cell activity
• Nitric Oxide
• Steroids
• Thyroid Hormones
• Water-soluble hormones – activate plasma membrane receptors that alter functions inside the cell
• Amines – epinephrine, melatonin, norepinephrine, serotonin
• Eicosanoids – leukotrienes, prostaglandins
• Glycoproteins, Peptides, and Proteins – ADH, growth hormone, insulin

Amino Acid Hormones

Amino acids are the first types of hormones found in the human body that we will highlight:

Hormone	Producer	Function
Epinephrine (adrenaline)	Adrenal gland	Fight or flight response, blood pressure, heart rate, muscle contraction, respiratory rate, vasodilation
Melatonin	Pineal gland	Sleep, circadian rhythm
Thyroxine (T4)	Thyroid gland	Regulates metabolism, increases body temperature
Triiodothyronine (T3)	Thyroid gland	Cardiac output, heart rate, metabolism

Eicosanoid Hormones

Eicosanoids are different kinds of hormones in the human body. They do not come from just one gland or organ but are released by cells throughout the body. Eicosanoids often alter production of other hormones.

Leukotrienes	White blood cells	Help with inflammation, allergy and asthma attacks, and influence function of WBCs
Prostacyclin	Endothelium	Vasodilator, platelet activation inhibitor
Prostaglandins	Chemical reaction when needed	Inflammation, blood clot formation, blood flow, smooth muscle contraction, glandular secretion, metabolism, labor induction, injury healing, tissue repair
Thromboxane	Platelets	Vasoconstriction

Peptide Hormones

As we look at these different types of hormones in the human body and their functions, we find some of the most well-known associated with the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland.

Hormones of the hypothalamus and the hormone release they stimulate include:

Hormone	Target Hormone
Corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH)	Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) from anterior pituitary gland
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)	Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) from anterior pituitary gland
Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)	Growth hormone from anterior pituitary gland
Orexin	Increases energy, appetite, wakefulness
Somatostatin	Inhibits and prevents growth hormone release
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)	Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) from anterior pituitary gland

These two hormones are produced in the hypothalamus, but stored and released by the posterior pituitary gland:

• Antidiuretic hormone – ACTH release, water retention in the kidneys, vasoconstriction, blood pressure regulation
• Oxytocin – circadian rhythm, labor contractions, breast milk production

Hormones of the anterior pituitary gland include:

Hormone	Target Hormone or Function
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)	Adrenal gland production of cortisol
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)	Egg and follicle development in female ovaries, testosterone production in male testes
Human growth hormone (HGH)	Release of insulin growth factor 1 by the liver, cell division and growth, metabolism, bone, muscle, cartilage, immunity, brain functions, glucose uptake, libido, more
Luteinizing hormone (LH)	Female ovulation, estrogen and progesterone production, male testosterone release from testes
Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH)	Skin and hair pigmentation
Prolactin (PRL)	Stimulates milk production, impacts sexual behavior
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)	Thyroid gland release of thyroxine and tri-iodothyronine, promotes release of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), inhibits growth hormone inhibiting hormone (GHIH)

In addition to the amino acid hormones mentioned earlier, the thyroid gland also produces calcitonin to help with calcium regulation, bone building, and prevention of bone resorption.

The parathyroid gland provides parathyroid hormone which increases calcium and decreases phosphate in the blood and increases osteoclast number and activity.

The pancreas is both an endocrine and exocrine gland and produces numerous hormones, including:

Hormone	Function
Amylin	Reduces food intake and inhibits digestive secretions
Glucagon	Raises levels of blood glucose, stimulates glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in the liver
Insulin	Lowers blood glucose levels, speeds glycogenesis and lipogenesis, increases amino acid uptake and protein synthesis, slows glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis
Somatostatin	Inhibits release of glucagon and insulin, slows nutrient absorption from gastrointestinal tract
Pancreatic polypeptide	Inhibits contraction of gallbladder, somatostatin secretion, and pancreatic digestive enzyme secretion
Vasoactive intestinal peptide	Lowers inflammation and blood pressure, glycogenolysis, heart contractility, vasodilation

The thymus gland produces four hormones that play a role in the maturation of T cells:

• Thymosin
• Thymic humoral factor
• Thymic factor
• Thymopoietin

The following organs also produce various peptide hormones:

• Heart:
• Atrial-natriuretic peptide (atriopeptin) – vasodilator
• Brain natriuretic peptide – dilator
• Kidneys:
• Enkephalin – pain regulation
• Renin – blood pressure regulation
• Liver:
• Angiotensinogen & Angiotensin – release aldosterone, vasoconstriction
• Hepcidin – inhibits export of cellular iron
• Insulin growth factor – cell regeneration, mediates effects of growth hormone
• Stomach:
• Gastrin – gastric acid secretion
• Ghrelin – appetite stimulation

Other peptide hormones come from many other areas of the body, such as tissues, bones, and other organs as follows:

Hormone	Producer	Function
Anti-Mullerian hormone	Testes	Prolactin and TRH inhibitor
Adiponectin	Adipose tissue	Lipid and glucose metabolism modulator
Cholecystokinin	Duodenum	Digestion aid, appetite reducer
Cortistatin	Cerebral cortex	Slow wave sleep
Endothelin	Vascular endothelium	Contraction of smooth muscles
Galanin	Central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract	Energy homeostasis, water balance
Gastric inhibitory polypeptide	Jejunum and duodenum mucosa	Insulin secretion
Glucagon-like peptide-1	Ileum	Insulin synthesis and release
Guanylin	Epithelium	Intestinal water and salt transportation regulation
Human chorionic gonadotropin	Placenta	Corpus luteum support at start of pregnancy
Human placental lactogen	Placenta	Insulin and IGF-1 production, carbohydrate intolerance, insulin resistance
Inhibin	Ovaries, testes, fetus	Inhibits production of FSH
Leptin	Adipose tissue	Metabolism support and appetite suppression
Motilin	Small intestine	Gastric activity
Osteocalcin	Bones	Memory formation, muscle function, testosterone synthesis
Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide	Multiple	Neuromodulator and neurotransmitter
Relaxin	Corpus luteum, mammary glands, placenta, uterus	Prepares cervix and pelvis ligaments for childbirth
Secretin	Duodenum	Pancreatic and liver secretions
Thrombopoietin	Kidney, liver, striated muscle	Platelet production
Uroguanylin	Renal tissue	Renal water and salt transportation regulation

Steroid Hormones

When we talk about what types of hormones in the human body are most well-known, people tend to think about steroid hormones. These vital chemical messengers come from the adrenal glands, ovaries, and testes, and some are the likeliest to decline with age.

The adrenal glands produce the following steroid hormones:

Hormone	Steroid Type	Producer	Effect/Function
Aldosterone	Mineralocorticoid	Adrenal cortex	Absorbs excess sodium in kidneys to increase blood volume, blood pressure regulation
Androstenedione	Androgen	Adrenal glands, gonads	Steroid hormones, helps with estrogen and testosterone production
Cortisol	Glucocorticoid	Adrenal cortex	Regulates inflammation, blood sugar, blood pressure, balance of water and sale, influences memory, the stress hormone

The different types of hormones in the human body that are estrogen hormones include:

Hormone	Producer	Function
Estradiol	Ovaries, testes, testosterone conversion by aromatase enzyme	Bone resorption inhibition, endometrial and uterine growth, lung functions, blood vessel maintenance, circulation, cortisol, SHBG
Estrone	Ovaries	Uncertain
Estriol	Placenta	Uncertain, may assist menopause symptoms

The different types of androgen hormones include:

Hormone	Producer	Function
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)	Ovaries, testes, kidneys	Estrogen and testosterone precursor
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)	Multiple, testosterone conversion by enzyme 5 alpha reductase	Stimulates male characteristic development
Testosterone	Testes, ovaries, adrenal glands	Muscle and bone development and growth, brain functions, hair growth, libido, spermatogenesis

Progesterone is the only progestogen steroid hormone and comes from the adrenal glands, ovaries, testes, and placenta. It supports nerve and thyroid hormone functions, is a source hormone, pregnancy support, regulates estrogen effects, blood clotting, and is anti-inflammatory.

The final two hormones are secosteroids called Calcitriol and Calcidiol. They come from the skin and proximal tubules of the kidneys and are the active and inactive forms of vitamin D3 respectively.

Unbalanced hormones can create many problems in the body. Please contact Kingsberg HRT Clinic with any questions you have about regulating your hormone levels.