Antiaging Hormone A Bust

[Dodger]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/18/health/webmd/main2104427.shtml


(WebMD) For years, the steroid hormone DHEA has been marketed and sold over the counter as an antiaging supplement, but new research shows that elderly people who take it derive little benefit.

The study, led by researchers from the Mayo Clinic, is one of the largest and longest ever to examine DHEA's effect on key markers of aging, such as muscle strength and physical performance.

Older men and women who took the steroid hormone for two years showed no measurable improvements in areas including measurements of body fat, physical performance, insulin sensitivity, or quality of life compared with older people given a placebo.

The findings are published in the Oct. 19 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

"This research is pretty definitive," researcher K. Sreekumaran Nair, M.D., Ph.D., tells WebMD. "We found no evidence that DHEA has an antiaging effect."

Fountain of Youth?

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), is a hormone that can be converted by the body to the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen. Levels of DHEA are naturally very high among teens and young adults but begin to decrease by the early 30s. The typical 70-year-old has DHEA levels only about 20 percent as high as he or she had in the early 20s.

The thinking has been that restoring DHEA levels to those that naturally occur in younger adults may help slow the aging process and delay diseases of aging, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

There is some clinical evidence to back up this claim, including one study published in 2004, which showed reductions in abdominal fat and improvements in insulin sensitivity among older people who took DHEA for six months.

But that study was much smaller and shorter than the newly reported trial, which included 87 men and 57 women aged 60 or older treated with DHEA, low-dose testosterone, or placebo for two years.

DHEA was given at doses designed to restore hormone levels to those typical for men and women in their 20s. The men receiving low-dose testosterone were treated with 5 milligrams per day of the hormone.

Effects of DHEA Treatment

The researchers conclude that treatment with DHEA or low-dose testosterone did not bring out clinically relevant effects on most of the aging markers studied.

DHEA and testosterone did appear to have some positive effect on bone density, but the benefits were much smaller than those typically seen with the most effective bone-strengthening drugs, the Mayo researchers conclude.

"Taken together, our data provide no evidence that either DHEA or low-dose testosterone is an effective anti-aging hormone supplement and argue strongly against the use of these agents for this purpose," they write.

Same Data, Different Take

But a spokesman for the dietary supplement industry has a different take on the findings.

Andrew Shao, Ph.D., of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, says the two-year study confirms the safety of relatively high-dose DHEA in both men and women. No clinically significant side effects were reported among participants who took DHEA or low-dose testosterone.

"We are encouraged by those results, particularly because there is a need for safe bone builders in this age group," Shao says.

In an editorial published along with the study, Paul M. Stewart, M.D., of the UK's University of Birmingham, questioned the safety of DHEA and called for it to be classified as a drug, rather than a dietary supplement — which is not strictly regulated by the FDA.

"Appropriate regulation would dispel much of the quackery associated with this elusive hormone," he writes.

Aging and longevity researcher Peter Hornsby, Ph.D., agrees. The University of Texas Health Science Center professor of physiology tells WebMD that DHEA should never have been classified as a dietary supplement.

"There is no logical reason why a steroid hormone should be considered a supplement," he says. "Yo can't have it both ways. If this is a real steroid hormone, it should not be taken without a doctor's supervision, just like estrogen and testosterone."



SOURCES: Nair, K.S. The New England Journal of Medicine, Oct. 19, 2006; vol 355: pp 1647-1659. K. Sreekumaran Nair, MD, PhD, division of endocrinology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Peter Hornsby, PhD, professor of physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio. WebMD Medical News: "Hormone Protects Against Diseases of Aging." Andrew Shao, PhD, Council for Responsible Nutrition. Paul M. Stewart, MD, University of Birmingham, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, England.

[kaypeeoh]

The researchers say it doesn't work but want it classified as a prescription drug anyway? I tried it for the anabolic effects several years ago but found it didn't do anything for me.

[kebaldwin]

Yeah, I guess we should all quit this low carbing and vitamin nonsense because it does no good! We should all immediately go back to a life of high glycemic foods, prescription drugs, and surgery.

[dina1957]

Yeah, I guess we should all quit this low carbing and vitamin nonsense because it does no good! We should all immediately go back to a life of high glycemic foods, prescription drugs, and surgery.
What does supplementing with steroid hormones has to do with low carbing and taking vitamins? I think the article made a good point: no steroid hormones will make aging body young again, to the contrary, the effects can be quite opposite. DHEA is a hormone but is sold OTC, some drs promote it as fountain of youth, energy booster, brain antifogger, etc. I have tried it too, it did not do much.
I believe no steroid hormones should be taken without medical supervision and not sold OTC for sure. I have learned the hard way how powerfull hormones are, even so called "natural".

[Nancy LC]

And the growth factor hormones treatments some doctors are doing are probably helping to age people, at least according to the research coming from CR.

[kebaldwin]

What does supplementing with steroid hormones has to do with low carbing and taking vitamins?

You don't think that there is a hormone problem in this country?

You don't think that hormones can be rebalanced naturally?

I believe no steroid hormones should be taken without medical supervision and not sold OTC for sure.

The solution that the FDA, AMA, big pharma, etc came up with -- was synthetic, guaranteed safe, and was huge disaster

I prefer natural solutions over what the FDA, AMA, and big pharma approve.

[dina1957]

You don't think that there is a hormone problem in this country?

You don't think that hormones can be rebalanced naturally?
There is more hype started by pharmacies, drs, companies making supplements, to make you think there is a hormonal problem in this country that needs to be corrected by adding more hormones!
No, I don't belive in balancing simply because I've tried it and have 1st hand experience, and simply because there are at least 50 hormones made by adrenals only, and they all work as a symphony. I believe that major hormones (insulin, thyroxin, adrenalin/cortisol) must be replaced when there are illnesses such as diabetes, AF, hypothyrodism. Balancing major hormones is not a simple task, our body does not often work weel with exogenous hormones as those manufactured by glands, even if so called "natural" formulations are used. As for balancing "minor" - sex hormones, it is a very tricky business and unless you completely supress your own sex hormone syntesis, there is no way to balance something that changes HOURLY! All hormones are interconected and so called testing, is meaningless because of constant fluctuations.
I have read at least 5 books on so called hormonal balancing, and all authors claim it is possible, iand I thought it is possible too until I have tried it myself. Same symptoms that are thought to be cause by excess, can be actualy caused by deficit of one particulate hormone. Like Adrenal fatigue, classically low cortisol/weight loss, fatigue, etc. is a symptom of AF, but many drs specializing in treating this syndrome, claim that high cortisol is a sign of adrenal burnout. So they treat it with bioidentical cortisol, to give adrenals time to heal, and at the end it may lead to hormone dependency for the rest of your life, since adrenals may completely shutdown. Our body is lazy, give it hormones, and it does not want to make their own. If this what you call balancing?
In my case they lkept increasing does of my hormone, while I was deficient in another one, and blood test showed the opposite.

The solution that the FDA, AMA, big pharma, etc came up with -- was synthetic, guaranteed safe, and was huge disaster

I prefer natural solutions over what the FDA, AMA, and big pharma approve.
Little you know then, sorry but the same natural hormones have been avaialbe from Big pharma for a while: estradiol cream and patch, micronized progesterone, and testosterone are all been on the market for a while, you can even buy it on the web withoput Rx.. It is made by a highly reputable pharmaceutical companies, regulated by EU agencies ( more strict that FDAtrust me in theior regulations), precisely dosed, garanteed potency and purity, and don't have different fillers as compounded formulations and "natural" supplements.They all approved by FDA and are used as raw material by compound pharmacies. ;) At least you know what you are putting into your body!
Some supplements do not contain any hormones BTW, since they are NOT REGULATED.
If you prefer to use something that is not regulated, controlled, and is not garanteed to have standard dose from one lot/batch to another, then use so called "natural" supplements, compound formulas, only because you think Big Pharma is evil.
Regards,
D.

[kebaldwin]

There is more hype started by pharmacies, drs, companies making supplements, to make you think there is a hormonal problem in this country that needs to be corrected by adding more hormones!

Pre type2 diabetes, Syndrome X, Metabolic Syndrome are rampany in the US and the hormonal inbalances are huge. People in their 20s and 30s are seeing diseases that use to only be seen in people in their 60s. Sorry you don't see it.

No, I don't belive in balancing simply because I've tried it

Sorry it did not work for you. However, that does not mean it did not work for many, many others. Perhaps you should work with a doctor that was successful with it. And not be so negative.

If I had listened to people like you - I would still be 300+ pounds, 45+ body fat, and on five or six prescription drugs.

The solution that the FDA, AMA, big pharma, etc came up with -- was synthetic, guaranteed safe, and was huge disaster

I prefer natural solutions over what the FDA, AMA, and big pharma approve.

Little you know then,

You are right - I don't know all about all the lawsuits. Good thing I have google.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=estrogen+replacement+lawsuits

I do think that the AMA, RDA, big pharma, etc are the problem. They could easily stop at least half of all health problems almost immediately - but yet they fight against it.

[dina1957]

Pre type2 diabetes, Syndrome X, Metabolic Syndrome are rampany in the US and the hormonal inbalances are huge. People in their 20s and 30s are seeing diseases that use to only be seen in people in their 60s. Sorry you don't see it.
One's diet is individual choice, I blame ppl for being careless of what they put in their mouth. There are many health oriented, that are not on LC diet but slim and trim, they watch what goes into their body and exercise.



Sorry it did not work for you. However, that does not mean it did not work for many, many others. Perhaps you should work with a doctor that was successful with it. And not be so negative.
I am not negative, i have worked with few drs, paid $$$$ out of pocket (BTW, those successfull drs do not take insurance), and it made me feel worst. Perhaps, my hormones just need to settle down naturally, and not being "balanced".

If I had listened to people like you - I would still be 300+ pounds, 45+ body fat, and on five or six prescription drugs. -[quote]
Hey, I did not make you 300+ pounds, and you are free to "balance" your hormones, biut not sure which one you are taking about.
If this is about insulin, I agree, but if it is about "balancing" reproductive hormones, it is not that simple. Read more about hormones, try it yourself, and then we will talk. I am not going to argue, we seem to be taking about different things. Not being obese does not mean your body is ageless and balanced.
[quote]I do think that the AMA, RDA, big pharma, etc are the problem. They could easily stop at least half of all health problems almost immediately - but yet they fight against it.
You seem to have a problem with Big Pharma, I understood. To the fairness, they do mnake drugs that save ppl lives, and working very hard to fight Syndrome X and diabetes, CAD, and cancer too.
Perhaps you should stop being so negative, and think outside of google. Those drs who talking about hormonal balance do not run charity business too, they are here for big $$$$, not only Big Pharma is greedy.;)

[cs_carver]

Wonder who paid for the study? Who has the biggest interest in seeing more OTC medications regulated?

Guess I ride both sides of this fence. When I step on a stick and wind up with red stripes running up my leg, I'm all for big pharma and its research budgets, even when the consequences include three weeks of disrupted digestion.

OTOH, most of our improvements in longevity have come from public health (sewers), not medicine, per se, and there sure is a lot of attention being paid to medicating life-style consequences. But that's the way we've set up the system. I think there's far more hype being given to medicating life-style symptoms rather than balancing hormones. Could be an artifact of a poster living in San Francisco, too: I can think of three doctors locally who would even contemplate hormone balancing, against several thousand who would write lipitor and send me home.

And agreed, one of those three is pretty strange. Found the information coming out of the practice useful at the beginning, but then it got to where I was "fringier" than I wanted to be. Something to be said for BCBS reimbursement guidelines...

I have to be careful to back away from "I tried that and it didn't work for me so I don't think you should try it either" arguments. Way too hard to know all the variables...

[dina1957]

Could be an artifact of a poster living in San Francisco, too: I can think of three doctors locally who would even contemplate hormone balancing, against several thousand who would write lipitor and send me home.


Those who write a Rs for lipitor do not claim it will make you 20 years younger, and yet there are many drs and hormonal centers who make false claims, run countless blood test (each one comes to about $500), almost monthly, and in order to get the dosage adjusted you need to visit this dr monthly. Some charge upfront a very hefty amount ($3000-4000), others will charge for a visit ($300-400) - almost monthly, so it comes to the same amount withing the 1st year, when they "promiss" to balance your hormones. When you complain of symptoms getting worse, they increase the dosage, and then again, and again, until you take high enough to supress completely your own hormones. Just like this, I am not saying one should not try, the whole discussion was "Big Pharama" is evil, and natural supplements are better option. So, I pointed Big Pharma makes natural hormones too, and at least, if one wants to try, it is better and safer to take pharmaceutical grade, BIH hormones (made from soy and wild yum BTW), rather than experimenting with questionalbe quality supplements without medical supervision.
HRT helps many, it comes with a hefty price though in form of side effect and risk, but it's personal choice. But it should be done under strict medical supervision, and only using pharmaceutical grade BIH, IMO.