Apricots and dates Eating apricots and dates can increase prolactin, which is the hormone that tells your body to produce milk. Apricots contain essential nutrients such as dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium.
Wheat, rye, and barley are all high in gluten, which may cause an inflammatory response in the body when consumed. This could increase the prolactin level and disrupt dopamine production in the hypothalamus. Thus, avoiding gluten could prove to be an effective way to lower prolactin levels.
Reduce stress with yoga, meditation, and long slow walks. Consider taking vitamin B6, which lowers prolactin levels by increasing the neurotransmitter dopamine. Consider taking the herbal medicine Vitex agnus-castus (chaste tree or chaste berry), which lowers prolactin.
Dopamine agonists can decrease the production of prolactin and shrink the size of the tumor. Drugs can eliminate symptoms for most people with prolactinomas. However, you'll generally need long-term treatment with drugs. Commonly prescribed drugs include cabergoline and bromocriptine (Cycloset, Parlodel).
Also vitamin D deficiency in prolactinoma patients associated with larger adenoma size and higher prolactin level.
Studies have shown that eating certain types of dark chocolates may help increase milk production due to their rich antioxidant content, which helps stimulate prolactin production (the hormone responsible for lactation).
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is another supplement that can inhibit central prolactin secretion. It is also safe, cheap and rarely causes any side effects. The recommended dosage is 300 to 400 IU per day. If necessary, the dosage of natural vitamin E can be increased up to 1000 IU per day.
Vitamin D administered to patients with macroprolactinemia increased 25-hydroxyvitamin, reduced total prolactin and macroprolactin, as well tended to reduce PTH. The effect of vitamin D on total prolactin and macroprolactin correlated with their baseline values and baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels.
There is some evidence that functional hyperprolactinemia may be due to stress-induced neuroendocrine changes of dopamine and serotonin, thus affecting prolactin release [35]. REM sleep rebound, a behavioral coping mechanism to stress, has been found to be mediated by prolactin [36].
Exercise effects on prolactin
Circulating prolactin levels increase in the blood during exercise, with the magnitude of the increase approximately proportional to the intensity of the physical activity.
[36], who investigated the effect of caffeine and caffeinated coffee on the concentration of prolactin among pre- and postmenopausal women (aged 25–70 years), depending on the number of cups of coffee and caffeine consumed daily, have shown that there were no significant differences in the levels of this hormone.
In addition, curcumin also induced apoptosis in both GH3 and MMQ cells. Furthermore, curcumin suppresses intracellular levels and release of both prolactin and GH.
If dopamine function is impaired due to such factors as fewer D2 receptors, reduced reuptake, or decreased dopamine transporter, all of which have been observed in rodent models of early iron deficiency (4,5), there should be less inhibition of prolactin release and therefore higher prolactin levels.
The brain chemical dopamine helps suppress the production of prolactin in your body. Any medication that affects the production or use of dopamine in your body can make your prolactin levels rise.
“Avoid foods that are spicy, fried or fatty because they don't settle well in the stomach whenever you're nauseous, and foods that have a strong aroma could also trigger nausea,” says Rosemond. “Try eating simple foods that can help ease nausea and settle the stomach, like plain toast or crackers.
Excess breast manipulation, high protein meals, physical activity and sleep deprivation can artificially elevate the prolactin levels. Rarely, there are brain tumors that block the signals from the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland that can result in elevated prolactin levels.
Decreased levels of essential hormones: Increased prolactinoma levels can lower the production of other essential hormones. Reduction in hormones like cortisol can cause weakness, fatigue, and low blood pressure.
Prolactin secretion is entrained into the sleep cycle of Non-REM and REM periods. A maximum of plasma hormone elevations occurs during the first quarter of sleep cycles, i.e., during Non-REM periods and less frequent rises at the end of the cycles, mainly during REM periods.
Overall, a higher volume of exercise compared to a standard volume did not reduce prolactin levels in BETA. Moreover, the effects did not vary according to exercise adherence or baseline fitness levels, BMI, and total body fat.
In response to acute aerobic exercise, the concentrations of circulating leukocytes as well as plasma prolactin levels are elevated (20, 27, 34). Thus greater numbers of immune cells could interact with increased levels of prolactin in the blood during exercise, leading to an overall stimulation of the immune system.
Zinc-treated patients had significantly higher plasma zinc levels (134 +/- 10 micrograms/dl v 88 +/- 2 micrograms/dl) and lower serum prolactin levels (11 +/- 4 ng/ml v 29 +/- 7 ng/ml) than untreated patients.
Moreover, PRL modulates anxiety and depressive-like behaviors. PRL also regulates neurogenesis, the generation of new neurons, in both the subventricular zone (SVZ) and the hippocampus. PRL levels and environmental conditions may induce changes in neurogenesis, potentially leading to an impact on emotional behavior.