Proceedings of the International scientific and practical conference ―Synergy of Modern Science and Education‖ (February 2-4, 2026) / Publisher website: www.naukainfo.com. – New York, USA, 2026. - 324 p.

115 Keywords: minerals menstrual cycle, hormones, deficiency, excess, regulation. Results and discussion. The menstrual cycle is regulated by certain hormones: gonadotropin-releasing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and prolactin. The beginning of the reproductive axis is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone. GnRH is located in the hypothalamus in the brain. Its pulsatile secretion controls the secretion of FSH and LH. Minerals that affect gonadotropin-releasing hormone: calcium, zinc, magnesium, iron. Calcium is a key signal for release. When GnRH neurons receive an excitatory signal (e.g., from glutamate or norepinephrine), the cell membrane depolarizes. This depolarization opens voltage-gated calcium channels. Ca²⁺ ions enter the neuron from the extracellular space. A sharp increase in intracellular calcium concentration leads to the activation of proteins that "force" GnRH vesicles to fuse with the membrane and release their contents into the pituitary portal system. Without the influx of calcium, GnRH release would not be possible. This is the final essential link in the signaling pathway [1]. Zinc is a cofactor of enzymes for the synthesis of proteins and nucleic acids, which is necessary for the production of the hormone. It ensures the normal processing of pro-GnRH and the formation of the active hormone. It increases the sensitivity of the pituitary gland to GnR, thereby enhancing the response of LH and FSH. With zinc deficiency, we can observe the suppression of GnRH pulsatility, a decrease in basal LH and a weakening of the ovulatory peak of LH between the two phases, a weakening of the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone. Diseases such as oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea, anovulation occur. Magnesium, which reduces the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA), reduces stress-induced suppression of GnRH, thereby stabilizing the nervous system and energy metabolism [2]. Magnesium is also necessary for the synthesis of serotonin and dopamine, which regulate the secretion of GnRH. Magnesium deficiency: disruption of GnRH pulsation, irregular cycle, anovulation [3]. Iron indirectly affects GnRH by providing oxygen and energy. As part of hemoglobin/myoglobin, it provides oxygen to neurons. Iron is a cofactor of Krebs cycle enzymes, which are used to synthesize ATP. Iron