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A large -scale ten -year study conducted by the Pasteur Institute over a thousand individuals highlighted steroid hormones. The levels of these molecules, which play a crucial role in our health, vary in time – sometimes to a large extent – influenced by sexual and lifestyle. The results of this research were recently published in Science Advances.
Steroid hormones, or steroids, are a large family ranging from corticosteroids, such as cortisone, sex hormones such as progestins, estrogens and androgens. It is well known that they play a crucial role in our health, regulating our metabolism, our immune system, the development and maintenance of sexual characteristics and the reproductive system and resistance to stress.
The levels of these steroids can vary considerably depending on genetics, sex and time of life, although scientific research on the subject remains relatively limited in terms of moment when the levels of these hormones are likely to increase or decrease and in what proportions.
Levels of 17 hormones studied
To fill this gap in scientific knowledge, two teams from the Pasteur Institute conducted a longitudinal study of ten years of the same individuals. This was led by two scientists from the Pasteur Institute – Darragh Duffy, head of the Translational Immunology Unit and Molly Ingersoll, head of the joint unity of mucous inflammation and immunity (with the Cochin Institute).
Nearly a thousand healthy people, aged 20 to 69, were recruited to form the Medium cohort. Half of them were women and the other half were men. Changes in 17 steroid hormones in these subjects were measured by mass spectrometry. This is the first study to analyze such a large number of hormones in a large healthy population.
Oral contraception and smoking have a significant impact
The main conclusion of the study published in March 2025 (1) Do the levels of practically all steroids vary according to genetics, age and sex of individuals. However, many factors related to lifestyle are also at stake.
The key factor for women is oral contraception, with the use of the contraceptive pill considerably affecting 12 steroid hormones. “The levels of estrogen, androgens and progestins in women taking oral contraceptives are very low – lower than those observed in menopausal women,” explains Molly Ingersoll.
Sex hormones are not the only ones affected – the levels of several corticosteroids are much higher in women taking contraceptive pills.
Smoking affects the levels of many steroids in men. In male subjects, there is also a link between the drop in androgens (including testosterone) and various diseases as individuals age. “This suggests that these hormones could play a role in the development of certain diseases,” said Darragh Duffy.
The importance of lifestyle
Other lifestyle choices also have an impact on hormonal balance. “Unexpected correlations have emerged from the study, including a correlation between fast food consumption and levels of cortisone and cortisol,” describes Léa Deltourbe, pThe HD student in the Molly Ingersoll team, and one of the three co-workshops of the study, as well as Elizabeth Maloney (doctoral student) and Jamie Sugrue (Postdoc) in the Darragh Duffy team
All this data provide a reference base to understand normal hormonal variations and their health implications. “They highlight the importance of adapting the treatment of diseases associated with sex, age and behavior hormones, including sexual behavior,” conclude scientists.
Reference: Deltourbe LG, Suggue J, Maloney E, et al. The levels of steroid hormones vary according to sex, aging, lifestyle and genetics. Scientific advances. 2025; 11 (13): EADU6094. DOI:10.1126 / SCIADV.ADU6094
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