Tag Archives: Hormones

Women juggle work & life balance better with age

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British women are struggling to bring balance to their lives, with only one in four (27%) saying they successfully juggle the demands of work, family and a social life. But over-40s are the most likely to get it right, with almost one in three saying (31%) saying they strike the right balance and more than half (57%) say they sometimes get it right.

Four out of five (84%) women say there are times when they are trying to keep too many balls in the air and a similar number (81%) fear their frenetic lifestyles could lead to health problems in the future.

Hormonal balance

This worrying picture of women’s health and emotional wellbeing has emerged in polls conducted for Kira, one of the nation’s most trusted names in women’s health and herbal supplements.

The One Poll surveys of 1,000 women — half aged between 20 and 40 and half aged 40 to 60 — found that older women are the best when it comes to resisting the pressure to be perfect, with two out of five (41%) saying it was never an issue, compared to less than a third (29%) of 20 to 40-year-olds

Older women are also less likely to look enviously at their friends’ lives, with almost two out of five (38%) saying this was never an issue, compared to less than a quarter (23%) of the 20 to 40-year-olds.

They are also less likely to fall prey to pressure from social media with only one in 13 (8%) saying online activity made them feel they were being short-changed by life, compared to almost one in five (18%) of the younger women.

Body confidence as we age
Body confidence also grows with age, with seven out of ten (69%) of the older women saying they had no interest in cosmetic surgery or procedures, compared to six out of ten (59%) of the younger group. The 20 to 40 group was twice as likely to want a boob job or new nose, 18% compared to 8% and 10% versus 5%.

However, anxiety about the future was a factor across the board, with almost nine out of ten (89%) women in both age groups saying they worried about what lay ahead. Money and debt was a cause for concern for one in three (32%) and two out of five (45%) admitted they were struggling financially.

Dr Catherine Hood, a women’s health specialist and an advisor to Kira notes: “It’s reassuring that experience brings a little more stability and contentment, but these surveys show women are balancing different demands throughout their lives.

She adds: “The demands of our bodies change too, which is why bone health becomes much more of an issue as we age. Top up vitamins can be helpful during periods of stress or when busy lifestyles makes it difficult to exercise and eat healthily.

“But I would advise any woman over 40 to take special care to protect their bone health with a high calcium supplement such as Kira Body Balance.”

How to find balance, bone health and avoid hormonal blips
Kira Hormonal Balance is a one-a-day food supplement which is great for women on the go as it does what it says on the pack, and helps keep your hormones in balance.

It contains a combination of essential B vitamins, which are important for hormonal metabolism and balance. Vitamins B2, B6, B12, vitamin C and folic acid also help reduce tiredness and fatigue, while vitamins B1, B6, B12, folic acid and pantothenic acid may help to maintain normal mental performance and normal psychological function.

Hair Wonder – new products to halt hair loss

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As the editor of a magazine totally devoted to anti-ageing you would think I would know enough not to mess around with my hormones. Well I have to confess that is exactly what I did, albeit with a little bit of advice from an anti-ageing doctor.  And with bad consequences – two thirds of my hair fell out.

How did this happen you may ask?  Well in common with many woman of a certain age I started to suffer sub-optimal levels of the metabolism controlling hormone made by the thyroid gland but with no particular symptoms. But after a girlfriend, who had none of the symptoms either – she was slim and full of energy – I decided to take a blood test with my GP.  It confirmed that I was indeed short of the hormone and that I should supplement with thyroxine – first a small dose of 0.25mg and then 0.50 mg.
So I supplemented by taking the tiniest of pills first thing in the morning for several years.  Then in a conversation in Harley Street with an anti-ageing doctor,  I was advised to take a freely available supplement called Potassium Iodide – which can be bought on the net. So I started taking this for several months instead of my thyroxine. What I did know was that Potassium Iodide is the supplement you are advised to take if there is a nuclear blast as it protects the thyroid gland from radiation.  Added to which you are only supposed to take it short term as a build up is ‘toxic’.  I did notice after a month or so that I had a metallic taste in my mouth, that the skin on my back felt rough, I was getting strange spots on my face, my neck was swollen and I was having difficulty swallowing – but thought these were symptoms of hypochondria. I later discovered that these were symptoms of ‘toxicity’.
It was only when I ran out of the supplement and didn’t replace it with thyroxine that I suddenly noticed large amounts of hair in the bath plug hole, then all around my home and also it was coming out in handfuls and I was starting to see my scalp! And I had really thick hair which hairdressers always used to comment on….
So I turned to the internet for more information.  And concluded that my sudden hair loss was a symptom of one of the following:
  • Too much testosterone – which meant I was turning into a man and suffering from male-pattern baldness.  This was the worst possible scenario because then it never grows back!
  • It was stress-induced.  That was a possibility and had happened once before.
  • My thyroid was in need of thyroxine to help it function properly and hair loss – albeit temporary was a symptom. 
I concluded that my lack of thyroxine was to blame and started taking my tablets again and paid a visit to my GP for a blood test just in case there was something else. I also started eating all the things that help promote hair growth such as fish oils, selenium and tocotrienol (vitamin E).
So what was I to do about my hair disaster while waiting for the thyroxine levels to build up and my hair to grow back which would take several months? 
It was suggested that I try hair loss products.  But being sceptical – we have all seen men with those spray on colour thickeners – which sprays the scalp as well as the hair. But I was to learn that there are lots of new products nowr with ingredients that can really help you make the most of your hair when you need to.
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I tried the range from Hair Wonder which is aimed at halting hair loss caused by the menopause and stress, and contains phytokeratin to strengthen the hair and provitamin B5 to add shine.  The range includes shampoos, conditioners and a hair follicle boosting lotion and  a hair thickener. 
Surprisingly the one product I thought would be terrible was the one I most recommend –  the hair thickener!  Expecting to end up with hair that looked dull, lifeless and weighed down by the product, I could not have been more wrong.
Hair Wonder’ Henna Plus Fluid Hair Volumiser contains a range of ingredients that add volumn and strength to the hair without making it sticky, including henna, organic extracts and phyto keratin.  After washing your hair your spray it on and then blow dry.  And it does make a difference – OK you don’t get your hair back instantly but it does look and feel a whole lot better. 
The Anti-Hair Loss Lotion is also a great product because its applied directly to the scalp to stop further hair loss occuring. Trials in France revealed that it can increase hair growth by 25% in just four days.
The gloss shampoo is gentle and contains amino acids, Red ginseng and biotin to promote healthy hair follicles and gloss.
Whilst I realise that hair loss is often a symptom of a health issue that cannot always be sorted with a topical product, the range of Hair Wonder products does not contain any of the harsh ingredients that can make hair condition worse. It does help to give body, volume and shine which is a big step in the right direction when hair loss can be very distressing.  And they are not being sold at the rip-off prices.
I can only speak for my hair which is on the road to recovery – with a little help!
The anti-hair loss shampoo costs £9.99 (200ml), the hair lotion £16.99 (75ml) and the hair thickener £7.99 (150ml). There are several other products in the range.  Buy at www.naturalorigin.com
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DHEA may protect men’s hearts from disease, says new study

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Houston: The steroid hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone, commonly known as DHEA, does protect against the risk of cardiovascular events in men, according to a new Swedish study.
The Endocrine Society’s 94th Annual Meeting held in Houston heard about the  protective effect of higher levels DHEA.
The hormone which is produced by the adrenal glands, acts a precursor to the hormones estradiol and testosterone. Previouslysome research findings have suggested an association between increased DHEA levels and a reduction in heart disease, but the majority of the studies involving DHEA have been small and results have not always been conclusive.
In Sweden Åsa Tivesten, MD, PhD of the University of Gothenburg i and colleagues analysed data from 2,416 men between the ages of 69 and 81 years enrolled in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Sweden study, designed to evaluate risk factors for several diseases. Blood samples obtained upon enrollment were analyzed for DHEA and DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S)–the sulfate ester of DHEA which is the form of the hormone that occurs predominantly in the blood.
Over a five year follow-up period, 485 cases of fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular events were documented. Having a higher serum DHEA was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events, as was having a higher level of DHEA-S. Men whose DHEA-S was among the lowest one-fourth participants had a 25 percent higher risk of events compared to the rest of the subjects, and those whose levels of both DHEA and DHEA-S were among the lowest fourth had a 34 percent higher risk of any major cardiovascular event, and a 41 percent higher risk of a cerebrovascular event compared to the remainder of the group.
Dr Tivesten, an associate professor said: “Our findings may be the result of DHEA-S being protective, or that lower DHEA-S level is a marker for poor general health.’
She added that more research is needed to understand underlying mechanisms and to evaluate the potential benefits of hormone replacement.
“We cannot say that DHEA-S is protective because we have only studied an association,” she added. “A potential practical implication is that established cardiovascular risk factors perhaps should be assessed and treated more aggressively in men with lower DHEA-S levels. However, this must be evaluated in future studies; today, DHEA-S level is not part of cardiovascular-risk assessment.”
Want to know more about the health benefits of DHEA click here
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Ask the anti-ageing doctor with Dr John Moran

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Dr John Moran is a specialist in hormone replacement therapies for the treatment of symptoms of the menopause, andropause and sexual disfunction
 
Here he answers some of your questions:
 
 
What can I do to stop these dreadful menopausal night sweats?
 
This is one of the most unpleasant symptoms of the menopause and can last for years.  Its caused by a decline and imbalance of hormones. You may also  want to consider a blood test to see what your hormones are doing – and depending on the results whether you need hormone replacement therapy (HRT) either from your GP or bioidentical hormone replacement which is one of the most effective ways of treating the menopause.
 
I have heard about the male menopause – it is true that men go through this as well? 
 
Yes – once thought to be fiction rather than fact, medical research has now established that there is a slow decline in androgens, including the male hormone testosterone, in men from the age of 50 onwards.  Its also called the male climacteric or andropause.
 
Here are six easily recognisable symptoms of the andropause:
 
1.  Low sex drive and reduced erectile quality, particularly at night
2. Mood changes, irritability, fatigue and depression 
3. Decrease in lean body mass with associated loss of muscle strength
4. Decrease in body hair and skin elasticity
5. Decreased bone mineral density resulting in osteopenia, when small amounts of bone are starting to be lost, can be dectected by testing in a hip and spine bone density scan.  Osteopenia is the stage prior to full-blown osteoporosis and is an amber light warning.  A urine tesr can also detect bone turnover
6. Increased abdominal fat may put men at risk of coronary heart disease and diabetes                
Since I reached my 40s I have started to gain weight is there anything I can do outside of a diet and exercise to get rid of these extra pounds around my middle?

 
First of all you need to look at your lifestyle.  Are you eating healthily?  Are you taking enough exercise? The amount of abdominal fat around the middle is an indicator of several diseases of ageing including cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes.  As people age they become more sedentary and a decline in hormones which help with energy doesn’t help.  Get a checkup, including dietary advice.

I keep getting up in the middle of the night to urinate – do you know what could be causing this?
 
It may be nothing but frequent urinating at night can be a symptom of diabetes.  This may also be linked to prostate problems. Ask your doctor for a blood/urine tests.
I used to have beautiful soft skin and shiny hair but my skin is getting dry and my hair lacklustre?
 
The cause may be a number of conditions – most likely not very serious – depending on your age and general health.  Its likely a simple dietary deficiency.  Are you taking enough Omega 3 – ie fish oils, eating nuts and seeds – these not only help our skin and hair but also feed our brain, helping to protecting against neurological damage.
I’ve heard about bioidentical hormones – what are they?
 
They are made from plants and are bioidentical to those made by our body and may include estrogen, natural progesterone, testerone and DHEA.  Whereas the HRT prescribed by most doctors, at least on the NHS, is artificial and made from  synethetic substances and mare’s urine, branded Premarin, for example. 
I am a 50-year-old man and know I should be more active but I feel tired all the time and my sex life has gone out of the window? Is there a natural solution to this such as vitamins and supplements?
 
The answer may be as simple as changing your diet and exercise but older men often feel this way because of the decline in hormones.  You should seek advice and get a full checkup.
Is is good for older people to have sex or should they stop at a certain age?
 
There is no reason to stop having sex has we get older providing that is what you and your partner both want.  It stimulates us mentally and physically – assisting the release of beneficial hormones – and its a form of exercise so good all round.
I want to loose weight, can hormone replacement help?
 
It depends.  If you have put on weight recently then you need to look at your lifestyle and diet.  A blood and/or urine test to see what is happening with your hormones may help.  Many older woman do suffer from an underactive thyroid and supplementation may help but you would need to have tests to determine this.
 
Contact Dr Moran
 
To contact Dr Moran with a health query email him at including contact details. Dr Moran cannot enter into personal correspondence.  His replied cannot apply to individual cases and should be taken in a general context.  If you do have a health concern you should contact your own professional doctor/GP.
 

Sun is No1 cause of skin ageing, say cosmetic doctors

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London: As the nation prepares for summer, think twice before soaking up the sun or jumping on a sun bed to accelerate your tan as you could be one of the many people having to seek help from a cosmetic practitioner for their sun damaged skin. Despite the growing awareness of the dangers of sun exposure the message is still not getting through.

According to a new survey carried by Cosmetic News magazine at the launch the first Cosmetic News Expo conference and exhibition, 55% of cosmetic doctors cite sun damage as the most significant cause of ageing in the patients they see and a staggering 84% believe that sun beds should be banned. And while prevention is better than cure, 88% of women and 61% of men are having non-surgical injectable treatments to fill in lines and wrinkles, lift the face and hold back the years, but the frozen look is out with the majority of doctors predicting that the biggest trend for 2010 is a more natural look.

Survey Highlights:

· The most popular cosmetic treatment for women is botulinum toxin injections such as BotoxÒ/VistabelÒ and DysportÒ/AzzalureÒ (47%) followed by dermal fillers (31%) and Sculptra (10%). Botulinum toxin was also the most popular treatment for men (47%) followed by dermal fillers (14%) and laser hair removal (9%). Significantly 89% of doctors would not use permanent fillers because they deem them too risky and 39% did not think that mesotherapy works.

· 76% of cosmetic doctors were opposed to remote prescribing to nurses or beauty therapists stating that the practice was too risky with unexamined patients being treated.

· 71% think that newly launched IHAS Shared Regulation scheme will work.

· 29% of doctors surveyed stated that improved dermal fillers to treat the face were the biggest innovation in aesthetic medicine over the last five years and Sculptra (26%) and Juvederm Ultra (17%) were selected as the two treatments that had revolutionised cosmetic practices

· 84% believed sun beds should be banned and 55% cited sun damage as the most significant cause of ageing, followed by smoking (33%) and genetics (9%)

· The biggest trend in aesthetics for 2010 was predicted to be the natural look with treatments that stimulate natural collagen production.

· The age group having the most non-surgical cosmetic treatments was 40-50 years olds with botulinum toxin injections being the most popular procedure for mum’s post pregnancy followed by weight reducing treatments such as radio frequency and VASER Lipo (15%)

· 50% of doctors currently use non-surgical radio-frequency treatments for body contouring with 7% using VASER Lipo. 29% believed that VASER was the biggest innovation in medical aesthetics in the last five years.

· Laser hair removal was the most popular laser treatment for patients (50%)

· 86% of cosmetic doctors have their own private clinics but 59% are still working within the NHS.

Dr Patrick Bowler, Co Founder and Fellow of the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors says:

“Non surgical treatments are the most popular and fastest growing area in aesthetics. This survey shows no real surprises but it is pleasing to note the trend for natural looks rather than the overdone, overcooked appearances of the last decade. Subtle use of botulinum toxins and the latest fillers is the way forward. However I was rather disturbed that 24% of doctors thought it OK to remote prescribe to nurses and beauticians. There seem to be a significant number of doctors treading a dangerous path in the pursuit of commercialism.”

The survey was carried out in association with the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors (BACD) and Cosmetic News readers.

Women witth fatter tums better able to deal with stress

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Salt Lake City: Women who have extra fat around their middle may enjoy significant health advantages over slimmer hourglass-shaped females, says a 37-nation study in the journal, Current Anthropology.

Elizabeth Cashdan, a Utah University anthropologist, says that being thinner could mean missing out on the hormones that make women physically stronger, more competitive and better able to deal with stress.

Her study shows that across the world, women’s average waist-to-hip ratio is higher than the magic number of 0.7, the upper threshold of a classic hourglass figure – and the shape that anthropologists believe indicate female fertility to the opposite sex.

It is thought that bigger women have more androgens, a class of hormones that includes testosterone.Androgens increase the waist-to-hip ratio in women by boosting levels of visceral fat, which is carried around the waist. Raised levels of androgens are linked to increased strength, stamina and competitiveness in women, says Cashdan.

Trading the benefits of a thin waist for better ability to be independently resourceful may prove a good deal in many societies, she adds – and this in turn may alter male preferences.

Thus, in Japan, Portugal and Greece, where women tend to be less economically independent, the men say they place a higher value on a thin waist than do men in Britain or Denmark, where there tends to be more sexual equality.

And in some non-Western societies where food is scarce and women bear most of the responsibility for finding it, men prefer larger waist-to-hip ratios.

“Whether men prefer a waist-to-hip ratio associated with lower or higher androgen levels should depend on the degree to which they want their mates to be strong, tough, economically successful and politically competitive,” says Cashdan .

New pill can “jumpstart” youth hormone

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New York: A new drug can boost levels of one of the most important “youth hormones” in older people, according to a new study by the University of Virginia.

Patients aged between 60 and 61, took doses of an experimental drug called MK-677, that prompts the body to release growth hormone, over a two-year period. This lead to them gaining lean fat-free muscle mass and a redistribution of “middle-age spread” to the arms and legs. There was also a decrease in insulin sensitivity.

Altogether the trial involved 65 healthy people, some of whom were given a placebo. Doctors found that patients who had received the therapy experienced an increase in growth hormone levels equivalent to levels seen among healthy young adults. The findings are reported in the Nov. 3 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

This compared to those who didn’t get the growth-hormone boosting therapy losting about one pound of muscle in a year, wheras those who got the drug gained about two pounds of muscle mass

Growth hormone levels are highest during mid-puberty, but drop by about half by the time men and women turn 30. The decline continues , with levels diminishing at a rate of about 50 percent every 7 years.

Study author, Dr Michael Thorner said: “As we all get older, our body composition changes. So, people in their 80s and 90s all look the same: their fat is distributed in the center and the abdomen, and they lose a lot of muscle mass.”

“This has become an increasing problem as life expectancy has increased from 45 at the turn of the century to now over 80,” he continued. “Obviously people would like to remain independent and functional as long as possible, but these changes work against them.

“Because this age-related reduction in muscle mass is associated with a decrease in growth hormone secretion, the rationale for the therapy we’re studying is to try and address the problem by boosting the normal secretion of this hormone,” Thorner said.

Human growth hormone, produced naturally by the body’s pituitary gland, is essential to healthy development and the maintenance of tissues and organs. But as people enter their 30s and 40s, levels of the hormone start to decline.

Synthetic versions are legally prescribed for children with “dwarfism” and for adults with a abnormal deficiency – the decline brought about by ageing is not considered abnormal.

Nevertheless, a growing number of adults spend thousands of dollars on buying self-injectable human growth hormone which can be bought on the internet or prescribed by anti-ageing doctors.

Its use is controversial and has also become the focus of “sports doping” headlines, with well-known athletes allegedly turning to the drug for its reputed performance-enhancing properties.

According to the American College of Physicians, it’s estimated that some patients spend as much as $1,000 to $2,000 per month on the drug for anti-aging purposes.

Read more about muscles and ageing the US National Institute on Aging

ANDROPAUSE

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HORMONES

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MENOPAUSE

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Men are blind to beauty when it comes to mating

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Amsterdam: Men are blind to beauty when it comes to mating opportunities, new research confirms.

Human testosterone triggers an automatic reaction which has evolved in man when faced with a woman, to look for mating opportunities, and it does not matter if the woman is not attractive, the research reveals.

Research involving a group of male students found that their levels of the hormone testosterone increased to the same extent whether they were talking to a young woman they found attractive – or to one they didn’t fancy much at all.

After 300 seconds alone in the same room as a woman they had never met before, and in some cases did not find particularly attractive, the men’s testosterone levels of the hormone had shot up by an average of around eight percent.

The rising levels may then fuel more visible changes in male behaviour that occur in the presence of a woman, including a squaring of shoulders, an upright posture, and greater use of hands – and even, it is suggested, a flaring of the nostrils.

The rise in the male hormone may also be the reason why men are more likely to tell women exaggerated stories about their job, career, education and earnings, the researchers believe.

The study, published in the journal Hormones and Behaviour, involved 63 male students aged 21 to 25 who were not aware of the purpose of the study.

Men who were rated as more aggressive or dominant types had registered even higher testosterone levels. The results also show that testosterone levels did not change when they were in the room with another man.

Leander van der Meij, who led the study at the University of Groningen in Holland, said: “We found a testosterone increase after only five minutes of exposure to a woman. Our results suggest that the increase in testosterone levels that we found, may be an automatic male response that activates receptors in organs and the nervous system to prepare the human body for mate attraction.”

The Telegraph quotes him as saying: “Once levels have risen, they can display more dominant behaviour. They talk more with their hands, there is more eye contact, their posture is more upright, and they are more likely to tell stories designed to impress the woman. We know that women can be attracted by these kinds of things. All this, we believe, may be fuelled by the rise in testosterone that we have found.”

New generation diet pill which mimics hormone ready for human trials

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London: A new generation of hormone diet drugs which could be as effective as weight-loss surgery could soon be on the market after the announcement that it was ready for human trials.

Scientists believe the drug, which creates a false feeling that a person is full, could offer a breakthrough in the treatment of obesity, which is predicted to reach epidemic levels in the coming decades.

One in four Britons is now classed as obese, one in three 10-year-olds is either overweight or obese and more than one million obesity drugs are prescribed every year.Experts estimate that by 2050 half of all adults will be classed as clinically obese.

The drug, which has been developed by Imperial College London, offers an alternative to gastroplasty, or stomach stapling, which uses surgery to reduce the size of the stomach.

It has been developed by Steve Bloom, a medical professor at the university, who has produced a synthetic version of a hormone called oxyntomodulin, which is known to help obese patients reduce their food intake.

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Men with low-testosterone suffer increase in bone fractures

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Sydney: Elderly men with low levels of testosterone are more than twice as likely to suffer bone fractures as those with higher amounts of the sex hormone, researchers in Australia found.

A study of men at least 60 years old found a quarter had testosterone deficiency linked to a two-fold increase in the risk of bone fractures caused by osteoporosis, according to researchers at Sydney’s Garvan Institute of Medical Research. The finding may enable doctors to identify susceptible elderly men and devise strategies to prevent bone fractures.

Osteoporosis, when bones thin and break easily, affects 10 million Americans and is generally considered a women’s disease. While women’s bones become fragile after menopause when they stop producing estrogen, men’s weaken at a later age and can cause just as much damage. In Australia, 30 percent of the 110,000 osteoporosis-induced fractures that occur each year are in men.

John Eisman, Professor Medicine at the University of New South Wales and director of Garvan’s bone and mineral programme said: “Osteoporosis in men is basically ignored. This is something that gives us more insight into why they might have problems, why they might be likely to fracture.”

In the US, for example, two million men have the disease and another 12 million are at risk for it, the National Osteoporosis Foundation estimates. Treating patients with osteoporosis medicines including Eli Lilly & Co.’s Evista and Forteo, Merck & Co.’s Fosamax and Procter & Gamble Co.’s Actonel may prevent fragility fractures if the disease is diagnosed early, previous studies have shown.

Each year, about 329,000 hip fractures occur in the U.S. About 20 percent of the people die within six to 12 months after breaking hips, according to a study published in November in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Men’s testosterone levels are usually about 300 to 1,000 nanograms per deciliter of blood, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. A quarter of men over 60 had levels of 294 nanograms or less in the Garvan study, which followed 609 men aged over 60 years between January 1989 and December 2005.

Even after adjusting for factors known to alter fracture risk, including age, weight, fracture history, smoking status and calcium intake, the risk of fracture was more than doubled in men with low testosterone compared with men with high levels of the hormone, according to the study. The results were published yesterday in the Archives of Internal Medicines.

“Men with lower testosterone might be getting a double whammy,” Eisman said. “Their bones are worse and their muscles are a bit weaker, both of which are likely then to contribute to their risk of fractures.”

While testosterone supplements may assist those deficient in the hormone, other treatments may also help, he said.

“Importantly, reducing alcohol consumption, avoiding smoking, maintaining an active lifestyle, getting sunlight exposure and eating a diet rich in calcium will also help to minimize risk,” Eisman said.

The research is part of the Dubbo Osteoporosis Epidemiology Study, which started in 1989 and recruited all men and women 60 years or older living in Dubbo, a regional city of 32,000 predominantly white people in Australia’s New South Wales state.

Doctors condemn FDA decision to ban estriol following pressure from drug lobby

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A coalition of gynecologists, internists, allergists, ER physicians and general practitioners responsible for treating thousands of women today criticized the US’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for taking action that threatens to deny hundreds of thousands of women access to customized medications they take for symptoms of menopause.

The FDA last week announced that the hormone estriol can no longer be used in estrogen medications customized for women by compounding pharmacies. Estriol is a component of 90 percent or more of these customized preparations.

The FDA action is in response to a “citizen petition” filed by the giant drug maker Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. Wyeth is the maker of Premarin and Prempro, two hormone treatments for women that have been linked to cancer, heart disease and stroke by a 2002 Women’s Health Initiative, National Institute of Health (NIH) study. Millions of women have discontinued taking Wyeth’s hormone products as a result of the WHI study, which was halted because of the serious health risks that were discovered in 2002.

“The FDA has succumbed to pressure from Wyeth in its attempt to clear the market of safer alternatives to its unsafe products,” said Erika Schwartz, M.D., a co-founder of BHI, the Bioidentical Hormone Initiative (www.bioidenticalhormoneinitiative.org), a not-for-profit medical organization comprised of conventionally trained, practicing physicians who have successfully treated patients with bioidentical hormones for years. “The FDA should protect the interest of women, not the profits of Wyeth.”

Estriol has been used by women for decades as a component of customized estrogen hormone drugs, most commonly known as Biest and Triest. It occurs naturally in the human body and, according to the FDA, has never been associated with adverse events or other health and safety issues. Estriol is also in a phase II/III clinical trial pending FDA approval for treating women with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). It is approved for use and widely used in Europe and is a component of medications that have been commercially available in the U.S.

“There is no evidence that anyone has been harmed by estriol,” said Kent Holtorf, M.D., also a co-founder of BHI. “The FDA has even admitted that safety concerns are not the reason behind their decision to try to remove estriol from the market. Instead, they are responding to Wyeth’s blatant attempt to remove medicines that provide an alternative to their flawed horse hormones that are foreign to a woman’s body.”

“FDA’s actions are clearly misguided,” said David Brownstein, M.D., another founder of BHI. “They have no legitimate reason or even the legal authority to limit a licensed physician’s use of a safe and effective bioidentical hormone. There are numerous positive studies and countless successful outcomes with estrogen treatments containing estriol.”

The FDA claims that it is taking estriol off the market because it is not a component of any FDA approved drug, despite the fact that the hormone has been used for decades without problems. Estriol has a long standing United States Pharmacopoeia monograph, an accepted standard for drug ingredients absent significant health risks. Other common drugs that are not components of FDA approved drugs include aspirin.

“There are no legitimate medical, scientific or legal reasons for the FDA to take this action,” said Dr. Schwartz. “It would require countless women to return to their doctors and alter the medications they have used both safely and effectively for years. If the FDA has its way, since estriol is available in Europe, a woman will need a passport, not a prescription to get her medication.”

The citizen petition filed by Wyeth with the FDA requested that estriol be removed from the market, along with other requests to remove customized medications that compete with their flawed products. The petition created a tremendous backlash from women, doctors and pharmacists. Over 77,000 comments, a near record, were filed with the FDA in response to the petition, all but a handful opposing Wyeth’s request.

“The few comments in support of the Wyeth petition were filed mostly by organizations with substantial financial ties to Wyeth,” said Dr. Schwartz. “The FDA has chosen to protect Wyeth’s wealth rather than women’s health. This is a shameful act for this agency to take.”

For more information on the Bioidentical Hormone Initiative, visit www.bioidenticalhormoneinitiative.org

Dr Nick Delgado – California

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10% discount on Gold Rejuvenation Programme

Dr Nick Delgado PhD, CHT is a leading authority on anti-ageing and sexual medicine. He also specialises in hormone replacement therapy and nutraceuticals to aid rejuvenation.

To find out more:

www.ultimatemedresearch.com

Bones act as an organ – new research reveals

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Even though bones seem to be metabolically inactive structures, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, bones are rebuilt constantly through the action of cells known as osteoblasts while old bone is destroyed by other cells known as osteoclasts. Bones also produce red and white blood cells, help maintain blood pH and store calcium.

However, exciting new research published in this month’s edition of the magazine Cell, has shown that bones also act as an endocrine organ. Not only do bones produce a protein hormone, osteocalcin that regulates bone formation, but this hormone also protects against obesity and glucose intolerance by increasing proliferation of pancreatic beta cells and their subsequent secretion of insulin. Osteocalcin was also found to increase the body’s sensitivity to insulin and as well as reducing its fat stores.

Hormones function as chemical messengers that allow the body to precisely coordinate metabolism, reproduction and other essential biological processes that involve multiple organs.

“The skeleton used to be thought of as just a structural support system. This opens the door to a new way of seeing the bones,” said Dr. Gerard Karsenty, chairman of the department of genetics and development at Columbia University Medical Center in NYC, who headed the team that made the discovery.

Osteocalcin is not new to science: Its existence has been known for 50 years, “but its function was never understood,” observed Karsenty. However, researchers have long known that people with diabetes tend to have low levels of osteocalcin, but until now no one understood the significance.

Based on their knowledge of skeletal biology and endocrinology, the research team hypothesized that there might be a relationship between skeletal biology and endocrine regulation because of the long-known observation that obesity protects against osteoporosis in mammals. Additionally, it was known that people with untreated type 2 diabetes have low osteocalcin levels, which made this hormone an appealing target for their research efforts.

To do this research, the scientists designed an elegant series of experiments using several groups of mice. The first group of experimental mice had their osteoblast gene, called Esp, genetically deactivated, or “knocked out”. Esp encodes a receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatase called OST-PTP that increases beta-cell proliferation and insulin secretion in the pancreas, which results in hypoglycemia. But these so called “knock-out mice” lacked all functional Esp genes, so their insulin secretion and sensitivity decreased causing them to become obese and then to develop Type 2 diabetes when fed a normal diet. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin, the hormone that regulates sugar metabolism.

A second group of experimental mice were genetically engineered to over-produce osteocalcin. These mice showed lower-than-normal blood glucose levels and higher insulin levels than did normal mice that were fed a normal diet. Additionally, these “overproducer mice” also showed increased insulin sensitivity. This is probably the most exciting result because typically, excess blood insulin decreases tissues’ sensitivity to the hormone, which makes insulin treatment difficult for diabetics. Further, the team found that treating the “knock-out mice” with osteocalcin helped regulate their blood sugar and insulin.

Additionally, the investigators reported that mice with one functional copy of Esp showed a significant reversal of their metabolic abnormalities, which provides “genetic evidence that Esp and osteocalcin lie in the same regulatory pathway and that [the] Esp-/- mice metabolic phenotype is caused by a gain-of-activity of this hormone.”

Interestingly, mice that are genetically programmed to overeat and mice that were fed fatty diets were prevented from suffering both obesity and diabetes when given high levels of osteocalcin. Karsenty is now determining whether giving osteocalcin to his diabetic “knock-out mice” will reverse the disease. This research shows promise for treating human diabetics as well.

Finding a substance that increases beta cell proliferation, says Karsenty, “is a holy grail for diabetes research.” Thus, if what’s true for mice also proves true for humans, “then we have inside us a hormone that does precisely this.”

“The findings could have important implications for the treatment of diabetes. Osteocalcin has a triple-punch effect, in that it raises both insulin levels and insulin uptake while keeping fat at bay. That makes it a promising therapy for middle-aged people who want to fight type 2 diabetes,” Karsenty said.

Additionally, this study also reveals that the skeleton is an important part of the endocrine system.

“To our knowledge this study provides the first in vivo evidence that [the] skeleton exerts an endocrine regulation of energy metabolism and thereby may contribute to the onset and severity of metabolic disorders,” the authors wrote in their paper.

Hormone replacement Beverly Hills style

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Beverly Hills:It’s becoming a common complaint. ‘I’m tired all the time,’ ‘My sex drive is gone,’ ‘I exercise and still gain weight.” These are just some of the things patients are privately telling Andre Berger, MD of Beverly Hills’ posh Rejuvalife
Vitality Institute.

While each of these patients may have a different reason for being there, most of them are in need of the same treatment… a program that eliminates the maze of misinformation that is aimed at them, while giving them back the life and vitality that age and society are stripping them of daily.

“Many of my patients are struggling with what I believe is fast becoming a national epidemic,” stated Dr. Berger. “Call it age, call it the environment, call it the rat race. Whatever it is, these men and women are struggling with a constant lack of energy, low libido, weight gain and an overall loss of vitality and zest for life.”

According to Dr. Berger, over the counter pills, changes in diet and exercise may help for a short period, but in reality not much has provided these patients with the long term remedy they need. While Hormone Replacement Therapy and Bioidentical Hormones may be considered controversial, Dr. Berger has a plethora of patients (women and men) who will attest that his unique hormone rebalance and anti-aging program has given them back their energy, their lust for life and love, and an optimism for their future health they have never encountered.

The Rejuvalife Vitality Program is an annual, doctor supervised program that is tailored to each patient’s specific needs. It begins with an in depth patient interview and history, physical exam and metabolic testing, and in-depth state-of-the art comprehensive diagnostic testing of blood, saliva, and urine to determine the exact hormone levels and functional status of each patient.

This first level of testing helps Dr. Berger determine hormonal insufficiencies including areas such as the adrenals (that result in fatigue), melatonin (for sleep), food allergies and more so he can precisely pin-point the problem and determine an accurate diagnosis before administering any hormone replacement treatment. As a result, Dr. Berger is then able to increase or decrease the patient’s hormonal levels in each specific area and simultaneously optimize lifestyle areas to create the optimal balance. After balancing, patients are monitored for several months and tested regularly so that Dr. Berger can adjust to maintain balance as necessary. This process is repeated and monitored closely on an ongoing basis which for most includes 4 visits during the first 9 months and visits every 6 months thereafter, depending on the patient’s needs.

Dr. Berger sites various examples: A woman in her mid-40’s who is experiencing fatigue, depression, and weight gain typically blames “menopause” for her symptoms when in reality she may need to balance her adrenal glands and estrogen levels. Once corrected and properly balanced, most women begin feeling like “themselves” again. Dr. Berger notes that his hormone replacement program is not just for middle aged women (or middle-aged anybody for that matter, some of his patients are in their 20’s). Many men are suffering from “Andropause” where they feel a lack of libido, loss of muscle, weight gain, etc. Again, by putting a man’s hormone levels back to where they once were when he was younger, he will feel more rejuvenated and vital.

Lastly, Dr. Berger adds that although balancing hormones is an internal process, there is a very important external result. Not only do Dr. Berger’s patients feel better, but they also LOOK better. “Because everything in the body is connected, when you treat the inside, it automatically affects the outside,” says Dr. Berger. “My goal is to treat the complete person not just the symptom, resulting in overall better health…from the inside, out!”

About Dr Andre Berger: A visionary in the emerging field of holistic and anti-aging medicine, Dr. Andre Berger is the founder and medical director or Rejuvalife Vitality Institute, an anti-aging and cosmetic medicine practice that is considered Beverly Hills’ best kept secret. Dr. Berger incorporates a holistic approach to anti-aging therapies with a special emphasis on customized patient care, education and lifestyle changes. Dr. Berger received his MD from the University of Ottawa and completed his residency at McGill University in Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology and also is Board Certified in Emergency Medicine, Holistic Medicine and Anti-Aging Medicine. He is an active member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, the American Holistic Medical Association and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Visit www.rejuvalife.md

Men with higher levels of testosterone may live longer, suggests new research

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San Diego: Men with higher levels of the hormone testosterone may live longer, according to a new study.

Men with low testosterone levels tend to have fatter waists, high blood pressure and higher blood sugar levels, researchers found.

Those with high levels of the male sex hormone tended to have a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes in later life.

The study – the first of its kind to look at normal, relatively fit males – could lead to men with low levels taking supplements.

The survey followed the lives of 800 men aged over 51 since the 1970s. It found that those with low testosterone levels were a third more likely to die over an 18-year period than those with high testosterone levels.

The results cast doubt on the popular wisdom that the female hormone, oestrogen, is “good” for health in later life and testosterone is ‘bad’. According to the research team at the San Diego School of Medicine, the discrepancy could not be explained by pre-existing diseases such as diabetes or heart disease.

Dr Gail Laughlin, from the school’s Department of Family and Preventative Medicine, said: “We have followed these men for an average of 18 years and our study strongly suggests that the association between testosterone levels and death is not simply due to some acute illness. The study did show there may be an association between low testosterone levels and higher mortality.”

She cautioned that the study did not directly show that higher testosterone levels protected against diseases.

Testosterone declines slowly with age. However, there is a wide natural variation in the amount that different men produce.

The researchers said that besides tending to have larger waists and higher blood pressure, men low in testosterone had higher levels of inflammatory cytokines, proteins that contribute to the development of many diseases.

The San Diego School of Medicine is now considering trials of testosterone supplements to see if they have a preventative effect.

However, Dr Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, of the San Diego School of Medicine’s Division of Epidemiology, said the prospect of men popping testosterone pills to protect against diseases was a long way off.

She said: “We are very excited about these findings, which have important implications, but we are not ready to say that men should go out and get testosterone to prolong their lives.

She also said that low testosterone levels could be a by-product of obesity and suggested it may be possible to alter testosterone levels by lowering obesity.

Soya supplement proven to relieve menopause symtoms without dangerous side effects, reveal two new studies

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London: Two new studies, each involving 400 menopausal women, who were given a natural soya supplement has shown that it did not cause the potential dangerous side effects sometimes associated with oestrogen such as a thickening of the womb lining or breast cancers.

The studies were carried out by the French pharmaceutical company Arkopharma in relation to its supplement Phyto Soya, which helps relieve menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes by boosting levels of the hormone oestrogen naturally.

Nearly 400 women took part in each of the studies. The first looked at the effects of Phyto Soya on the endometrium – the lining of the womb – in women aged 45 to 65 years old. In this case the 310 biopsies that were available for evaluation at the end of the trial showed no cases of hyperplasia – an abnormal increase in the number of cells or cancer.

Separately, in another international study, which hasn’t yet been published, the women who were taking Phyto Soya were checked for changes in their breasts with mammography and breast ultrasounds. It found no changes at all in any of the subjects, and therefore no risks of breast cancer associated with the supplement. This study also confirmed that it caused no cases of endometriosis.

The studies’ authors are keen to point out that their results only apply to the brand of soya known as Phyto Soya and do not apply to any other soya isoflavone extract.

The good news for women is that a third study showed that trialists taking Phyto Soya experienced significantly fewer hot flushes a day, with two-thirds of them saying their number of hot flushes had been halved and 73% rating it as good or excellent.

The study concludes that menopausal women worried about the long-term effects of taking HRT now have a new, safe alternative in the form of soya extract.

The low incidence of menopausal symptoms in countries like Japan, where people eat a lot of soya, has long caused some experts to claim that soya extracts could do the same job as HRT. However, there was no proof that it was any less risky to take – until now, that is. But these new clinical studies have shown that Phyto Soya not only significantly reduces hot flushes but also is definitely safe when taken over long periods of time.

Soya is one of a number of plants that includes extracts called phytoestrogens, which are chemicals that act like oestrogens in animal cells. Isoflavones, which are found chiefly in soybeans, are specific phytoestrogens that have a chemical structure that is very similar to human oestrogen. This means that they can affect the way that women’s bodies produce oestrogen, if the right types and amounts are used.

HRT blamed for 1,000 ovarian cancer deaths

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London: Women taking hormone replacement therapy are 20% more likely to suffer from ovarian cancer, claims a new report. More more than 1,000 women died in the last 15 years after contracting ovarian cancer following hormone replacement therapy it says.

The study published in the latest issue of The Lancet medical journal etimates that 70 deaths a yar are connected to taking the therapy which is dogged with controversy and confusion.

US researchers recently produced evidence to suggest that women int heir 50s on HRT are protected from heart attachs and premature death. This contradicted earlier claims that it put women at risk of heart disease.

This latest study, sponsored by Million Women Study, was started in 1996 suggests that more than 1,300 extra cases of ovarian cancer occured between 1991 and 2005. Of these women, 1,000 died of the disease. It reveals a 20 per cent increase in risk of the disease in women who have taken HRT for at least five years, but says it does not persist if women give up. The study, largely funded by Cancer Research UK, looked at responses from 948,576 postmenopausal women over seven years. It has previously linked HRT with breast cancer.

Overall the statistics mean that over a five-year period there is likely to be one extra case of ovarian cancer among every 2,500 women receiving hormone replacement therapy. For every 3,300 women on HRT, there is estimated to be one additional death from ovarian cancer.

HRT prescribed by the UK’s National Health Service is artificially made hormone replacement usually made from mare’s urine. It is used to combat symptoms of the menopause, including hot flushes, vaginal dryness and night sweats, with a range of drugs including tablets, implants and patches.

Safety concerns led to drug regulatory authorities in the UK and other countries issuing restrictions, including the advice to use it for the shortest time possible, which have continued to deter women from getting treatment. It has been blamed for both womb and breast cancer.GP data shows the number of British women on HRT halved from two to one million between 2002 and 2005.

Sylvester Stallone arrest promotes interest in growth hormone

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Sydney: Cosmetic interest in the controversial anti-ageing growth hormone has swelled by 20 per cent since Rocky star Sylvester Stallone was allegedly caught with the chemical at Sydney airport.

The Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australasia says its members have fielded an unprecedented number of inquiries about human growth hormone, particularly from men in their 50s and 60s, in the past month.

The specialists say demand was fuelled by publicity arising from Stallone’s February visit to promote his latest film, Rocky Balboa, when he was charged with trying to import 48 vials of the hormone – a so-called “anti-ageing” elixir – into Australia.

The hormone is produced naturally by the pituitary gland to promote healthy growth, but many claim it enhances movement, sight, hair and general wellbeing when taken in its synthetic form.

It is also claimed to turn fat into muscle and is most well-known for its popularity among body-builders and Chinese swimmers, but scientific studies have yet to firmly establish any of these benefits.

Australian cosmetic surgeons who gathered in Melbourne for their national conference this week say there has been a 15 to 20 per cent increase in inquiries about hormone products in the past month.

Society president Glenn Murray said more people had been taking up the products, primarily to “boost up” levels of the hormone that had dropped off with age.

Both men and women, typically aged in their 50s and 60s, were signing up for the hormone despite there being few long-term studies showing benefits or side-effects, Dr Murray said.

“They’re feeling tired and like they’re looking their age and just want to slow things down,” he said.

“When they’re older and wanting to get a great last 20 years then they’re willing to try it and take some risks for the chance of a better quality of life.”

Dr Michael Zacharia, president of the Australasian Academy of Anti-Ageing Medicine, said a regular, low dose could “extend youthfulness”.

“It’s not that you’re going to live longer as such but you can prevent a lot of diseases, like cardiovascular disease, from coming along,” Dr Zacharia said.

“An 80-year-old who’s on an anti-ageing regime will look better, feel better and be just as active as he was when he was 60.”

But this is disputed by most in the academic scientific field who say there is a lack of hard science to prove the $500-a-month treatment actually works.

Australian laws prohibit the import of natural and manufactured growth hormones without a permit.

Stallone is required to enter a plea on his case’s next scheduled court date, April 24, but he is excused from attending court if legally represented.

Hormone link to child obesity

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San Francisco: Children in developed countries are becoming fatter because their diets play havoc with their hormones, according to a new study by scientists.

Robert Lustig, a paediatrician at the Children’s Hospital of the University of California in San Francisco, said: “Our current western food environment has become highly insulinogenic, as demonstrated by its increased energy density, high-fat content, high glycaemic index, increased fructose composition, decreased fibre, and decreased dairy content.”

Overweight children are more likely to become overweight adults, putting people at greater risk of heart disease and stroke.

In the latest issue of Nature Clinical Practice Endocrinology and Metabolism, Dr Lustig says the obesity epidemic rests on effects of processed food, which has sugar added to a wide variety of products that used never to include it and has fibre removed. This upsets the balance of two hormones which regulate how much we eat – leptin and insulin.

Low oestrogen linked to hip fractures in men

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New York: Low levels of the hormone oestrogen have been linked to an increased risk of hip fractures in older men, a new study in the US reveals.

The new study which is published in the May issue of the American Journal of Medicine, also states that those with low levels of oestrogen and testosterone are at the greatest risk. This study is the first to report the link between low estrogen and hip fracture in a study group of men from the general population followed over time.

It also found that men with low estrogen levels have an increased risk for future hip fracture, and those with both low estrogen and low testosterone levels have the greatest risk.

The study, of 793 men who had their hormone levels measured nbetween 1981 and 1983 and had no history of hip fracture, was conducted by Shreyasee Amin, MD at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s Framingham Heart Study www.framingham.com/heart. The men were monitored until 1999.

Thirty-nine men in the study experienced a low trauma hip fracture, such as that sustained by a fall. Those with low estrogen levels had 3.1 times the risk of hip fracture compared to men with high estrogen levels. There was no significant increase in hip fracture risk for men with low testosterone levels alone. But those both low estrogen and low testosterone levels had the greatest risk, with 6.5 times the risk of hip fracture compared to the men who had both estrogen and testosterone levels in the high range or midrange.

Though many people associate testosterone with men and estrogen with women, men possess both hormones, according to Dr Amin, who now works at the Mayo Clinic.

The researchers who undertook this study knew that low estrogen levels had been associated with low bone mineral density in elderly men, but any link to hip fracture, an important health risk in the elderly, was unknown. Hip fractures are worrisome in the elderly, especially in men, explains Dr. Amin. Up to 50 percent of men require institutionalized care after the fracture. Hip fracture also is linked to higher levels of mortality: up to 37 percent of men die within one year of fracture.

Routine tests on hormones are not performed in most countries and this study indicates the importance of such testing.

Scientists discover hormone that reduces appetite and promotes activity

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London: New research shows how topping up the levels of a hormone found in the gut could help reduce the appetite and increase activity in overweight and obese people.

The study published online in the International Journal of Obesity shows how the team from Imperial College London gave injections of oxyntomodulin to fifteen overweight but healthy volunteers from Hammersmith Hospital, and monitored how this affected their food intake, and levels of activity.

Professor Steve Bloom, from Imperial College London, who led the research, said: “The discovery that this hormone has a double effect, increasing energy expenditure as well as reducing food intake, could be of huge importance. When most people diet, this produces a reduction in activity, which is probably an adaptive trait to conserve energy during times of famine. However this does make it especially difficult for obese individuals trying to loose weight. In contrast oxyntomodulin decreases calorific intake, but actually increases energy expenditure, making it an ideal intervention for the obese.”

The researchers used fifteen healthy overweight male and female volunteers, aged between 23 and 49 years. The volunteers completed three separate four-day study sessions, where they self administered either saline or oxyntomodulin according to a double blind randomised trial.

After the first injection, the volunteers were given a meal, and their calorific intake was monitored. They spent the next two days in their normal environment, self administering oxyntomodulin three times a day before meals. On the fourth day, the volunteers came back to the hospital to have their energy expenditure measured.

They found that after the first meal, the volunteers ate on average 128 kcal or 17.4 percent less, while activity related energy expenditure increased by an average of 143 kcal or 26.2 percent.

The researchers also found a reduction in body weight by an average of
0.5 percent.

Professor Bloom added: “This discovery could provide doctors with a whole new way to treat the current obesity epidemic. We need to get away from the focus on food and start to think about how to increase exercise. The question is how to make people enjoy taking exercise and how to encourage them to do it spontaneously.

“Oxyntomodulin could work by letting the brain know it has an adequate energy supply and that it can afford to do productive things rather than concentrate solely on food seeking or conserving energy. It signals to the brain that it can increase exercise by letting it know that the energy is available to do more things.

“If used as a therapy for obesity, oxyntomodulin provides a double whammy – reducing food intake and increasing spontaneous activity.”

Hormone Replacement Therapy

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In anti-ageing hormone replacement therapy, a qualified doctor will take detailed blood/saliva/urine tests to determine current levels of hormones in the body. As we age levels of most hormones deteriorate and contribute to physical and mental signs of ageing including weight gain and memory loss.

These are just some of the hormones that might be supplemented as part of an anti-ageing programme:

Human Growth Hormone (Somatotrophin)

It is manufactured in the laboratory and until 1996 was only authorised by the US’s FDA in the treatment of children with HGH deficiencies which led to abnormal height.

HGH can still only be administered on prescription but it is approved for use in hormone-deficient adults. This hormone decreases with age and can improve cognitive function including memory, muscle mass, decrease in body fat, healthier heart, lungs, kidneys, increased bone density, elevation of mood, energy and libido.

There are also some unacceptable side effects such as a possible role in promoting the growth of cancer and its use is still experimental as not enough is known. There are a number of web sites selling “homeopathic” HGH but experts say only injectable HGH works because it by-passes the stomach where it would loose its properties.

When doctors administer HGH the therapeutic levels are monitored by the levels of another hormone called Insulin Growth Factor (IGF-1) as HGH can only be detected in the blood for onlya few minutes after it is administered. The amount of IGF-1 in the blood increases as we get older and also in cancer patients and there is a strong link between IGF-1 and cancer. The transdermal administration of HGH lowers this risk.

This therapy is available from anti-ageing doctors on this site. You are advised to seek a blood test prior to treatment to see whether you are deficient in this hormone in the first instance.

The Baxamed Medical Center has a “Youth Restoration Programme” in which a blood analysis determines the level of hormones such as HGH, Testosterone, Estrogen, Progesterone and DHEA, of which decline with age. At the clinic they replace the missing hormones in the correct dosage. The clinic also offers fetal cell therapy which is injected intramuscularly. The patient then continues the treatment at home.

DHEA – Dehydroepiandroserone

DHEA is the most prolific steroid hormone produced by the human body but it declines with age. aIt helps build muscle, loose fat, normalize cholesterol and even improves memory. DHEA levels decline quite rapidly with advanced age.

MELATONIN

Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland located near the bottom of the brain and regulates the body’s sleeping pattern. Again as we grow older, the pinal gland calcifies and the secretion of Melatonin declines, causing the sleeplessness so often suffered by the elderly.

Melatonin also helps with stress and helps the immune system repair itself. It is helpful for migraine and has been shown to slow down the growth of cancerous cells in certain types of cancer. Its role in anti-ageing is that melatonin is the regulator of other hormones released from the brain and diminised secretation may be responsible for ageing.

PREGNENOLONE

Pregnenolone like DHEA, Melatonin, Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone and Human Growth Hormone is a hormone that declines with increasing age. Recent studies demonstrated that Pregnenolone has a remarkable capability to increase memory function at very low doses. It is used to treat memory impairment due to illness and old age. In the 1930 to 1940s it was successfully used to treat arthritis, but it was forgotten when the first anti inflammatory medications were pushed on the market.

TESTOSTERONE

What is the Andropause: women in their fifties enter menopause, caused by a rapid decline of sex hormones – particularly progesterone. Until recently it was only suspected that men go through a change like menopause. New evidence confirms this supspicion. The decline of the male sex hormone testosterone is much slower than in women making the symptoms develop more slowly and hardly noticeable.

Testosterone is responsible for libido and sperm production. But it is not only a sex hormone, it also increases protein synthesis in the cells, and keeps up aerobic metabolism thus reducing the risk of cancer as cancer cells use anaerobic metabolism. Aerobic metabolism is also important to regulate cholesterol, supply sufficient oxygen to vital organs like the heart and the pancreas thus helping to prevent heart disease and diabetes. At any age aerobic exercise can increase the production of testosterone. Testosterone has fibrinolytic properties, this means it helps to prevent blood clots that would lead to thrombosis. Testosterone has anabolic properties and is counteracted by cortisol and adrenalin. Constant stress increases cortisol and adrenalin and aging decreases testosterone secretion. This leads to a catabolic state, where muscle mass is lost.

Testosterone therapy should be done under the supervision of a specialized physician. Only natural testosterone should be used such as Testosterone cream or patches. Most other forms are synthetic and not identical to the bodys’ own testosterone.