Vitamins and endocrine disruptors: the exohormone system

Abstract

In our present knowledge the human endocrine system is composed of endocrine glands, hormones (signals) which are produced by them and hormone receptors which recognize and bind the hormone and forwards the signal. However there are molecules outside the body which also have hormonal characters however, not having the name: hormone. These are some vitamins (A and D, possibly E and K), and natural or man-made endocrine disruptors. In contrast to their names they are real hormones in character and impacts and belong to the endocrine system (exohormones) as after entering into the human body, participate in the inside regulation. These molecules will have important role in the future evolution of the human endocrine system and can be internalized as it was in the case of vitamin A. Their classification into the real category is very important, because of doctor's' and laymen's motivation, and avoidance of faulty treatments.