LIFE EXTENSION UPDATE, FEBRUARY 23 2001
IN THIS ISSUE, FEBRUARY 23 2001: LIFE EXTENSION UPDATE EXCLUSIVE:
Hormone replacement therapy fails to slow atherosclerosis progression;
PROTOCOLS: Female Hormone Replacement, Male Hormone Replacement; FEATURED
PRODUCTS OF THE WEEK: ProFem cream, Natural Estrogen, BLOOD TESTING:
Male Life Extension Panel, Female Life Extension Panel
LIFE EXTENSION UPDATE EXCLUSIVE
Hormone replacement therapy fails to slow atherosclerosis progression
A study published in February's Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular
Biology: Journal of the American Heart Association, examined the effects
of hormone replacement therapy on women with increased risk of coronary
artery disease. The trial involved 321 healthy, postmenopausal women
with increased intima-media thickness in greater than one segment of the
carotid artery, an indicator of atherosclerosis. For a forty-eight week
period, the participants received one of three regimens: 1 mg estradiol
plus 25 micrograms progestin (synthetic progesterone) for twelve days each
month, 1 mg estradiol plus 25 micrograms progestin for twelve days every
three months, or no hormone replacement. The maximum intima-media
thickness of six carotid artery segments was measured by ultrasound before
and after the study. At the study's conclusion, the groups receiving
hormone replacement therapy experienced an increase in mean maximum
intima-media thickness of .03 millimeters, while the group on no hormone
replacement therapy experienced an increase of .02 mm. So not only did
hormone replacement therapy fail to slow the progression of
atherosclerosis in these women that occurred in nearly a year's time, the
group receiving hormone replacement experienced slightly greater
progression than the group receiving no synthetic hormones.
In the same issue, researchers at Osaka University in Japan reported that
progesterone, not progestins, may inhibit atherosclerosis. Progesterone
is the natural form of progesterone, identical to what is produced in the
human body. Progestins are have a slightly different molecular structure
than natural progesterone, and are commonly administered in combination
with estradiol in hormone replacement therapy to help prevent the risk of
endometrial cancer associated with estradiol-only hormone replacement. In
this study, the effects of progesterone and the progestin
medroxyprogesterone acetate on tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced
expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 were measured in
endothelial cells derived from human umbilical veins. The expression of
vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 is one of the earliest known events that
occurs in atherosclerosis. Progesterone inhibited the expression of
vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, while synthetic progesterone did not.
PROTOCOLS
Female Hormone Modulation Therapy
Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) remains controversial. FDA-approved
estrogen drugs have been documented to cause cancer. The most conclusive
report showed that women taking estrogen and a synthetic progestin drug
had a 32 to 46% increase in their risk of breast cancer (New England
Journal of Medicine, June 15, 1995). These estrogen and progestin drugs
carry warning labels listing a shocking array of dangerous side effects.
Unlike estrogen drugs, phytoestrogens have a balancing effect on the body.
When estrogen levels are too low, their very mild estrogenic effect raises
total estrogenic activity. When estrogen levels are too high, they compete
with estrogen at cell membrane receptor sites, thus lowering total
estrogenic activity.
Some women experience such severe menopausal symptoms that natural, safe
forms of estrogen supplements do not provide sufficient relief. If this
occurs, and a woman is afraid of the cancer risks and side effects of
long-term therapy with estrogen drugs approved by the FDA, there is a
third option. Estriol is used extensively in Europe for estrogen
replacement therapy in menopausal and postmenopausal women, but to date
has rarely been used for that purpose in the United States. It can,
however, be obtained in the U.S. from compounding pharmacies with a
doctor's prescription. Evidence suggests that estriol offers many of the
benefits of more traditional estrogen-replacement therapies, but without
the harsh side effects or longer term dangers often encountered by other
substances and trademarked products.
Throughout mature life, women will experience a gradual loss of another
critical hormone, progesterone. This decline becomes significant as women
get closer to menopause. Symptoms of a progesterone deficit include
premenstrual discomfort, night sweats, and hot flashes, along with a loss
of the sense of well-being (depressed feelings). During and after
menopause, natural progesterone synthesis often grinds to a halt, setting
the stage for a host of menopausal miseries and degenerative diseases.
Progesterone has many beneficial properties, such as the activation of
natural killer cells, but one factor of special relevance is that
progesterone diminishes the production of a cancer-causing form of
estrogen called 4-hydroxy-estrone, while increasing the production of
cancer-preventing estriol. In other words, estrogen may be made safe
through the concomitant use of progesterone, particularly when taken in
natural forms.
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151062001/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
Male Hormone Modulation Therapy
As men age past year 40, hormonal changes occur that perceptibly inhibit
physical, sexual, and cognitive function. The outward appearance of a
typical middle aged male shows increased abdominal fat and shrinkage of
muscle mass, a hallmark effect of hormone imbalance. A loss of feeling of
well being, sometimes manifesting as depression, is a common psychological
complication of hormone imbalance. Until recently, these changes were
attributed to "growing old," and men were expected to accept the fact that
their bodies were entering into a long degenerative process that would
someday result in death.
A remarkable amount of data has been compiled indicating that many of the
diseases that middle aged men begin experiencing, including depression,
abdominal weight gain, and prostate and heart disease, are directly
related to hormone imbalances that are correctable with currently
available drug and nutrient therapies. To the patient's detriment,
conventional doctors are increasingly prescribing drugs to treat
depression, elevated cholesterol, angina, and a host of other diseases
that may be caused by an underlying hormone imbalance.
If doctors checked their male patients' blood levels of estrogen,
testosterone, thyroid, and DHEA (instead of prescribing drugs to treat
symptoms), they might be surprised to learn that many problems could be
eliminated by adjusting hormone levels to fit the profile of a healthy
21-year-old.
Few physicians know what hormone blood tests to order for men, nor do they
have the experience to properly adjust hormones to reverse the
degenerative changes that begin in mid-life.
This protocol will provide the patient and physician with the information
necessary to safely modulate hormone levels for the purpose of pre-venting
and treating many of the common diseases associated with growing older.
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151062002/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
FEATURED PRODUCTS OF THE WEEK
ProFem
Pro Fem contains USP natural progesterone from soy. Pro Fem is used by
women to prevent osteoporosis, premenstrual syndrome, some cancers and
some of the side effects of estrogen replacement therapy. For severe
osteoporosis, the following regimen is suggested:
First jar: Use 1/2 teaspoon morning and night.
Second jar: use 1/4 teaspoon morning and night.
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151062003/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
Natural Estrogen
Millions of women fail to replace the estrogen they lose when they grow
older because of their fear of cancer. The risks of breast and ovarian
cancer for postmenopausal women have been well documented.
In an attempt to provide aging women with the multiple rejuvenation
effects of estrogen without side effects, scientists have developed plant
extracts with estrogenic activity (phytoestrogens) to substitute for
FDA-approved drugs. At the recent scientific meeting of the North American
Menopause Society, gynecologists were avidly searching for answers to
questions their patients have been asking them about natural hormone
replacement. Natural Estrogen is one answer to concerns about the risks
of estrogen replacement. Natural Estrogen was developed by a biochemist
with 40 years of experience with phytohormones (hormones from plants)
working in conjunction with a practicing gynecologist. Natural Estrogen
contains potent, standardized, estrogenic extracts such as glycyrrhetic
acid (from licorice root), angelica, and wild organic Himalayan yams.
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151062004/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
Blood Testing
For those who want to have the most important blood tests, The Life
Extension Foundation has put together a list of the most highly
recommended for men or women. The following prices for the Male or Female
Panels reflects the special sale prices in effect until April 15, 2001:
Male Life Extension Panel
CBC/Chemistry Profile
DHEA
PSA (prostate specific antigen)
Homocysteine
C-reactive protein
Free testosterone
Estradiol
$268.00
Female Life Extension Panel
CBC/Chemistry Profile
DHEA
Estradiol (an estrogen)
Homocysteine
C-reactive protein
Progesterone
Free testosterone
$303.00
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151062005/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
Thanks to all of you who recommeded Life Extension Update to friends and
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If you have questions or comments concerning this issue or past issues of
Life Extension Update, send them to ddye@lifeextension.com
For longer life,
Dayna Dye
Editor, Life Extension Update
ddye@lifeextension.com
Life Extension Foundation
www.lef.org
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