Abstracts of Some of Dr Hertoghe’s conferences

Abstracts for

How to conduct an anti-aging hormone therapy consultation, Anti-Aging Medicine World congress, Paris  3-2004

This practical session explains the interview, physical examination, lab tests, and complementary examinations to make an optimal consultation for hormone replacement therapies.  A focus is put on personalizing the treatment.  Every patient needs an adapted treatment.  Important is to learn on how to correct age-related endocrine deficiencies such as they common appear in aging adults.

2-hour ABC of anti-aging workshop for beginners   EMA Paris 10-2005 & 10-2006, Anti-Aging Medicine World Congress 3-2006 & 3-2007

Learn to know what really makes the difference in anti-aging medicine. The basis of anti-aging medicine is presented here in an easy-how-to-do it: the best diet for fitness and health, nutritional supplements (trace elements, vitamins, ..)., the psychology of longevious persons. Start doing it now for you and your patients.

The Multiple Endocrine Deficiency Syndrome: Is Human Senescence mainly caused by Multiple Hormone Deficiencies?  International Anti-Aging Conference Stromboli 6-2005

During senescence, the productions, the levels, and the number and quality of cellular receptors of many hormones progressively decline in the human body, gradually bringing the aging body into a state of multiple endocrine deficiencies. This multiple endocrine deficiency syndrome is further aggravated by alterations of hormone circadian cycles, which slowly replace the well-timed endocrine rhythmicity throughout the day and night by a chaotic condition.  Nycthemeral endocrine cycles undergo losses of cycling, phase-advancements, phase delays, unpredictable irregularities and/or serious dissynchronizations between each other, in particular in the very old or sick adults.  Hormone activities peak at the wrong times and become inefficient, and in certain cases dangerous.

Several arguments can be put forward to consider the age-related multiple endocrine deficiency syndrome as the major cause of human senescence.  

First, senescence resembles hormone deficiencies.  Many, if not most, of the signs, symptoms and diseases (including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, and dementia) associated with senescence can be favoured or even caused by hormone deficiencies and are anyway often similar to those caused by hormone deficiencies.

Second, many of the traditionally presumed causes of senescence can themselves be caused by endocrine deficiencies.  Excessive free radical formation, glycation, cross-linking of proteins, imbalanced regulation of apoptosis, accumulation of waste products, failure of repair systems, deficient immune reactions, and many other processes that may contribute to mental and physical deterioration may be caused or favoured by hormone deficiencies. Even genetic causes such as limits to cell proliferation, poor gene polymorphisms and activation of possible genetic “dead programs” may have links with hormone deficiencies, being either the consequence, either the cause or major favouring factor of hormone deficiencies.  

Thirdly, hormone replacement therapies may counter senescence. The appropriate intake of hormone supplements (used to correct hormone deficiencies) often delays, reduces, stops or even reverses signs, symptoms or diseases of senescence.

If human senescence is mainly caused by multiple hormone deficiencies and loss of adequate hormone rhythmicity, then it can be considered as a treatable disease.  

What is then the best treatment?  To treat optimally, the first step is to diagnose on time not only all hormone deficiencies, even the milder ones, but also any eventual alteration in hormone circadian cycles. Furthermore, all nutritional, dietary, behavioural, lifestyle, environmental (including ambient illumination) and pollutants (indoor, outdoor or dietary) factors that damage the endocrine function must be detected and corrected as soon as possible.  The second step, after correction or elimination of the previous mentioned factors (including measures to restore circadian rhythmicity), is to treat the hormone deficiencies by administering the appropriate, physiological doses of hormones at the best time of the day in order to respect circadian rhythmicity.  

 
References: for references please read the author’s article in the Annals of the New Yrok Academy of Science (Ann NY Acad Sci. 2005 Dec; 1057; 448-66) Click here for the abstract and the references



Hormone therapy: Prevention or treatment of aging?  A4M Las Vegas 12-2004

With aging, the production and levels of most hormones decline in adults.It becomes more and more widely accepted that this phenomenon has adverse consequences and may accelerate or even cause premature aging. The aging adult body, which in size and volume remains grossly as important as it was in the youthful years, apparently requires an amount of hormones similar to the one it had in the young adult years to keep the body healthy and tight. Therefore, the age-related endocrine decline is an unfavourable evolution and correction with hormone replacement therapy of the various hormone declines reverses the tendency to premature aging. A quick overview of the various anti-aging hormone replacement therapies is presented in this lecture.

 
Introduction to Treating Hormone Deficiency: The ABC’s with tips on how to boost their safety and efficacy A4M Chicago 7-2006, A4M Las Vegas 12-2006

With aging, the production and levels of most hormones decline in adults. The notion that this phenomenon has adverse consequences and may accelerate or even cause premature aging becomes increasingly accepted.
To keep the body healthy and tight the aged adult body, which in size and volume remains grossly as important as it was in the youthful years, requires amounts of hormones similar to the ones it had during young adulthood. The slow progressive decline in hormone levels with age should therefore be considered as an unfavourable evolution and its correction with hormone supplements to the more youthful concentrations may slow down or even partially reverse the aging processes.
A quick overview of the various anti-aging hormone replacement therapies is presented in this lecture, together with tips on how to make hormone supplementation safer. Basic conditions for such safe treatments consist of focusing on correcting only deficiencies (avoiding any unnecessary treatments), carefully adjusting the dose (“personalizing” the dose to each individual patient), doing regular follow-ups (with cancer screening), using small, physiological doses (avoiding overdoses), correctly balancing the hormone system (and rarely use one hormone alone, because of the risk of unbalancing the system), and last but not least, on preferably using bio-identical hormones (avoiding as much as possible synthetic derivatives of the human body’s natural hormones).

Other measures such as regular exercising, diet adjustments (including avoiding to eat excessively, or cook at too high temperatures), focusing on positive emotions, nutritional supplementation, should be added to the program, as various scientific reports have shown theses methods to further reduce the risk and severity of cancer and heart disease and thereby to increase the safety of hormone treatments.


References: for references read the author’s Hormone Handbook (approximately 300 pages of small print references

 

Growth hormone therapy in aging adults, Anti-Aging Medicine World congress, Paris  3-2004

This lecture provides the scientific evidence that demonstrate the existence of a progressive wear and tear of the growth hormone axis with aging in adults.  The lower growth hormone levels results in a mild growth hormone deficiency that progressively aggravates. Signs, symptoms and connected diseases are reviewed and growth hormone treatment in aging adults is explained.

 
References: for references read the Hormone Handbook

 

Growth hormone therapy in aging adults: place and dosage in a multiple hormonal replacement therapy.  A4M Las Vegas 1996

An overview of the growth hormone (GH) deficiency syndrome in the aging adult and some of the main studies demonstrating the multiple beneficial and rejuvenating effects of GH on health and body composition of the elderly are discussed.

The GH deficiency syndrome:

- thinned hair - excessive emotionality

- deeply wrinkled face : - permanent fatigue

- pouches under the eyes - easily exhausted after physical activity

- sagging cheeks - low resistance to staying up after midnight

- thinned lips - low resistance to stress

- gingival retraction - anxiety

- thinned jawbones - low aggressiveness

- loose skinfolds under the chin - sense of powerlessness

- sagging body silhouette :

- smaller shoulders - low self-esteem

- dropping triceps - depression

- thin wrinkled hands - low sociability (tendency to social isolation)

- smaller hips - sharp verbal retorts

- sagging inner sides of the thighs

- obese :

- pseudo-gynecomastia

- flabby belly

- fatty cushions above the knees

- thinned skin

 

Growth hormone therapy might become for most of the adults from age 40 on a must in the near future as GH production (average 200 mcg a day1 has already declined at this age to less than half of the young adults "optimal" production (approximatedly 540 mcg a day2).

The diagnosis of GH deficiency is based on typical clinical features combined with analyses in blood (plasma somatomedin-C, various GH secretion stimulation tests) and urines (24 hours or nighttime for GH measurement).

Two sorts of GH therapies can essentially be prescribed:

- monotherapy (composed solely of GH) : necessitates higher, more expensive dosages of 0, 5 to 2 I.U. a day

- polytherapy (GH-therapy being combined with other hormonal replacement therapies amongst these melatonine, sexual, adrenal and thyroid hormones seem the most important) : necessitates ofter a much lower dosage of 0,05 to 1 I.U. a day; presents more anti-aging efficiency and greater safety.

The following hormones, if supplied additionnally, have been reported to increase the endogenous GH and/or somatomedin-C (which mediates major effects of GH), or to potentiate an exogenous GH and/or somatomedin-C replacement therapy :

- androgens (5-alpha-androstanediol3 being more potent than testosterone4, 5, 6 and dihydrotestosterone7; synthetic nandrolone being weaker; DHEA in obese women)

- estrogens (preferably transdermal estradiol; oral estrogens decrease GH tissue accessibility and IGF-1 levels)8

- thyroid hormones9, 10

- melatonine11, 12, 13

- cortisol14 (in physiological dosages15; pharmacological dosages being suppressive16); ACTH17, 18

- insuline19, 20

- progesterone21, 22

- gonadotropins LH23, FSH24, 25

- parathyroid hormone26

- vasopressin27, 28, 29

- erythropoietin30

- even GH and somatomedin-C potentiate each other when given in combination31

If one of these hormones is lacking, adequate replacement therapy of this deficiency might make the use of lower dosages of injectable GH sufficient for efficient therapy.  Adequate food intake32, 33 esp. proteins34, 35 will improve GH levels; avoiding tobacco (at least in men)36, coffee (in women)36 and alcohol37 seems equally important.


References: for references read the Hormone Handbook

 

Growth hormone therapy of aging adults: the basic on how to treat efficiently and safely - workshop, Eurasian congress of Anti-Aging Medicine, Bangkok  1-2007

This lecture provides the physicians basic information on how to treat with growth hormone (GH) adults with partial deficiency.  It is not sufficient to treat a GH deficiency with daily subcutaneous injections.  Timing in the day, frequency, and type of product co-determine the efficacy of the treatment.  A diet rich in proteins and low in carbohydrates such as a sugar, sweets, soft drinks, caffeinated beverages, alcohol and even fruit juices further considerably help to boost the GH treatment effects. It is important for the physician to have an adequate knowledge of the signs and symptoms of  GH deficiency and excess to further fine tune the dosis of the GH treatment.

Are GH secretagogues helpful?  The most potent ones are not the classically know such as GHRP, and arginine, but other main hormones such as testosterone, thyroid hormones, melatonin and estradiol. All the different methods to boost GH secretion and effects are presented in this lecture, together with a survey of the most important pitfalls that may occur and how to solve them.  The aim of the lecture is to provide physicians the useful information on how to safely start a GH treatment and be able to do a basic follow-up.


References: for references read the Hormone Handbook



Growth hormone, an anti-cancer and longevity hormone ? A4M Orlando  4-2007

Many doubts have been expressed concerning the use of growth hormone therapy in adults, and especially in “normal” aging adults that do not present a total or near-total deficiency in growth hormone.  Fears have risen that growth hormone could potentially increase the risk of cancer and premature death.  Evidence exists to support these fears, although contradicted by results of other studies.  What is really true?  In vivo studies of patients on long-term growth hormone treated with growth hormone are reassuring. The findings suggest that the daily use of physiological doses of growth hormone in humans may protect them against cancer, or at least may show neutral effects. Data on growth hormone’s effects on lifespan are even more reassuring.  The possible mechanisms of protective effects of growth hormone against cancer and for longevity are reviewed and the hypothesis is presented that growth hormone’s beneficial effects occur within the range of physiological doses and that safety can be increased by correcting any other age-related deficiency of a hormone with which growth hormone needs to be in balance.


References: for references read the Hormone Handbook

 

Does growth hormone treatment in adults with growth hormone deficiency cause cancer, diabetes and premature death ?  The scientific evidence.  EMA Paris 1-10-2005

Some studies of growth hormone (GH) therapy have caused concern in the medical world. Positive associations between a high serum level of IGF-1, a marker of growth hormone activity, with an increased incidence of breast cancer in women and of prostate cancer in men, and an increased rate of premature death have been reported.  What is less well known is that in an almost equal number of studies the inverse has been shown, namely that significant negative and thus protective associations exist, and that in an even greater number of investigations no significant association are found.  Moreover, in several studies with rodents with malignant tumour, the higher serum GH and IGF-1 levels found rise due to local production of GH and/or IGF-1 by the breast or prostate tumour itself.  In these studies, the higher serum of GH and/or IGF-1  levels were a consequence and thus a marker of a pre-existing cancer, and not the cause. Furthermore, the only larger study comparing patients with severe growth deficiency treated and not treated with GH treatment, showed the untreated patients to have a twofold increase in overall cancer incidence and a four-to six-fold increase in cancer mortality compared to the normal population. Compared to the untreated group, the group of GH-deficient patients that were corrected with GH, had a 50 % lower cancer incidence (and thus had the same cancer incidence as the normal population ) and a 50 % lower cancer mortality (which is still a higher than the mortality found in the normal population).

Lifesaving effects of GH treatment in patients with cardiomyopathy have been shown.

A doubling of the rate of deaths in critically ill patients treated with GH treatment versus a non treated group, has been reported in two studies published in one article.  A closer look at these studies shows that doses used were clearly supraphysiological (10 to 75 times what is used in corrective therapies with GH in a fragile group of very sick persons. Supplementary, GH treatment is known to reduce the levels of  cortisol and its 17-hydroxysteroid metabolites in patients that desperately need higher levels of glucocorticoids to survive.  Thus, GH treatment should  only be given to critically ill patients in small physiological doses and if they are supplemented with a sufficient amount of exogenous glucocorticoids.
What about the increased incidence of colon cancer found in patients with acromegaly due to an increased production of GH? First, it is important to observe that not all studies have found this increased rate.  Second, the overall risk of cancer is generally not increased. One study found a increased risk of colon cancer, but a decreased risk of rectal cancer, reflecting thus a shift from one type of cancer to another.  Thirdly, acromegaly caused by high GH levels is a disease where in general the pituitary gland is crushed down by a tumour of GH-secreting cells, reducing sometimes severely the levels of other pituitary hormones such as TSH, LH, FSH, ACTH, etc.  On its turn, this  lower hormone production results in decreased hormone productions of peripheral endocrine glands levels, and namely in decreases in the levels of important immunostimulating hormones of such as thyroid, gonadal and adrenal hormones. Cancer development may be facilitated by such decline in immunity. Fourthly, in one study it GH treatment given to patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer survival was reported to have nonsignificantly improved survival by two months, but to have significantly decreased the rate and delayed the time of appearance of a recurrence of gastrointestinal cancer.

Does GH treatment cause diabetes?  In several studies, mild increases of the serum levels of glucose, insulin and/or glycosylated hemoglobin have been found during the first six months of the study.  It must be noted that patients with GH deficiency tend to suffer from attacks of hypoglycaemia, so that it is logical that GH therapy inverses this phenomenon.  After a year of GH treatment, patients with GH deficiency who are in general obese with a certain degree of insulin resistance due to high fat/lean mass ratio if left untreated, increase in lean mass and decrease in fat mass, changes that increase the insulin sensitivity and thereby result in decreases in glycaemia, insulinaemia and/or glycosylated haemoglobin.

 
References: for references read the Hormone Handbook

 

Thyroid and growth hormone therapies: Effects on coronary heart disease  EMA Paris 10-2005

Both thyroid hormones and growth hormone improve the lipid profile. Both thyroid hormones and growth hormone have been shown to counter the development and even reverse certain forms of atherosclerosis. Both thyroid hormones and growth hormones can correct certain  forms of cardiac failure.  Among hypothyroid patients with coronary heart disease the progression of coronary atherosclerosis is rare in patients treated on doses of 150 micrograms per day or higher, while all patients on 100 micrograms or less undergo a significant progression.  In another study, a substantial decrease in the appearance of new ischemic heart disease compared to a control population was noted in patients on long-term thyroid medication.  As growth hormone increases the conversion of thyroxin to the more potent triiodothyronine, increasing thereby thyroid activity, a supplementary argument is found in favour of growth hormone’s efficacy against the development of coronary atherosclerosis, a major cause of premature death.

 
References: for references read the Hormone Handbook

 

Treatment of aging adults with testosterone, growth hormone and cortisol  ACAM, 5-Orlando 2004

Aging progressively alters most endocrine axes. Consequently, hormone levels decrease, sometimes dramatically, putting the elderly person into a state of what would be for a young adult an overt hormone deficiency.  In modern medicine, the view that senescence causes and is caused (at least partially) by these hormone reductions gains ground. No serious data is found to contradict the view. On the contrary, every month new data is brought to confirm it.

Particularly detrimental to overall health and body appearance is apparently the age-related decrease with aging of three major hormones, namely growth hormone, testosterone and … cortisol!

The consequences of overt growth hormone deficiency in adults on organs (kidney, liver, bones, skin, etc. ), lean and fat mass, sleep and quality of life often resemble typical consequences of aging as observed in many studies, and they can be at least partially reversed by growth hormone treatment or in growth hormone excess (acromegaly).  Several studies have shown similar although less impressive observations for testosterone and other androgens not only in men but also in women.  The studies on the atherosclerotic protection that high levels of endogenous androgens appear to provide to women are among the most remarkable and challenging observations to the old traditional view that androgens should not be given to women.

What about cortisol?  Publications on the adverse effects of glucocorticoids are easily found.  The abundance of negative studies has given a bad press to cortisol and overshadowed the overall importance of adequate cortisol levels for any human subject. Cortisol provides energy, enhances the mood and preserves organs against unwanted inflammation. It is true that higher evening and nighttime levels of cortisol in elderly persons have been reported in some studies.  The nocturnal increase may be at the origin of the low sleep quality of aging persons, making abusively think that older people have increased cortisol production and effects during the entire 24 hours oa day-night cycle.  Nothing is farther from the truth! Other studies have found with aging decreased endogenous cortisol 24-hour production, decreased levels of urinary 17-hydroxy-corticoids, cortisol’s major metabolites that reflect decreased cortisol metabolic activity, and last but not least reduced levels of glucocorticoid receptors in target cells.

An insider’s look in the crucial importance of these three hormones will be presented in this lecture. Some practical information is given on treatment and controversial studies published on growth hormone and cancer, testosterone and prostate cancer, and cortisol, hypoglycaemia and mortality.

 
References: for references read the Hormone Handbook

 

How efficient are melatonin, growth hormone, thyroid, DHEA and estrogen corrective therapies to prevent or reverse coronary insufficiency: the data  International Anti-aging conference Bangkok 2-2006

A4M Chicago 7-2006 Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide.  In the Atlas of Heart disease and Stroke of the World Health Organization (WHO), it is stated that coronary heart disease is on the rise and has become a pandemic that respects no borders .  3.8 million men and 3.4 million women worldwide die each year from coronary heart disease.  Despite improvements in survival rates, in the USA 1 in 4 men and 1 in 3 women still die within a year of a recognized first heart attack. More efficient preventive and therapeutic treatments are needed.

Patients with coronary heart disease often have significantly or near significantly lower serum levels of melatonin, thyroid hormones, DHEA, testosterone (men) and estradiol (women). In men with myocardial infarction higher estrogen levels have been found, which are positively correlated with the severity of the myocardial lesions.

Treatment of hypothyroid patients with thyroid hormones has been reported to drastically reduce the risk of new ischemic heart disease during a 5-year observation period.  A soon to be published study by the author and colleagues shows a -31 % in men to a -34% in women reduction in the incidence of new ischemic heart disease in patients treated with multiple hormone replacement therapies and dietary advice during a mean of 5.9 (men) to 6.4 (women) years. The hormone therapies that were taken included the above-mentioned treatments.  Other cardiovascular parameters such as the blood pressure and the atherogenic risk factor (total/HDL cholesterol) beneficially improved during the treatment in contrast with the expected age-related deterioration.

Hormone supplementation of patients with coronary heart disease has been shown in animal and some human studies to beneficially counter or even reverse coronary heart insufficiency. The beneficial therapeutic effect of testosterone on angina pectoris in men and in women is already an old finding.  In more recent studies, where an experimental myocardial infarct was inflicted to animals, a drastic improvement of the outcome was obtained with the use of melatonin, growth hormone, DHEA or estradiol. The extent of the infarct zone was also reduced with the use of thyroid hormones in older rat studies.

The scientific data all tend to support a predominant role of (untreated) hormone deficiencies in the development of coronary heart disease in ageing humans. Next to diet control and nutritional supplementation, safe hormone treatments that correct deficiencies should be considered as preventive or therapeutic tools for the development of coronary artery insufficiency.  

 

References: for references read the Hormone Handbook
 

 
Thyroid therapy: a necessary treatment in many aging adults A4M Las Vegas 12-2004

Serum thyroxine levels decline by about 20 % with aging, while serum level
of the most active thyroid hormone , triiodothyronine declines more, on the
average with -25 %. This decline results in a mild thyroid deficiency in
aging adults, which contrary to what many believes is not a healthy
adaptation of thyroid function to aging but an unhealthy event reflecting
the tear and wear process of the pituitary-thyroid axis with aging.
The increased incidence of age-related thyroid deficiency may explain some
of the puffiness of the face of aging adults, dry skin, mild obesity, cold
extremities, increased incidence of coronary heart disease, and possibly of
cancer.  Psychic and mental symptoms such as morning fatigue, depression,
slowness, memory loss, etc. are common complaints of elderly adults that may
result from the age-related decline of thyroid hormones.
Contrary to the believes,  the best treatment of mild hypothyroidism in
aging adult appears to be not be a treatment using only thyroxine but an
association of thyroxine and triiodothyronine.  A major reason for this is
the slowed conversion of thyroxine to triiodothyronine, related to the aging
of the liver.

 
References:  for references read the Hormone Handbook

 

Thyroid hormones: how and why thyroid therapy is a necessary treatment for many aging adults  A4M Chicago 7-2006

Serum thyroxine levels decline by about 20 % with aging, while serum level of the most active thyroid hormone, triiodothyronine declines more, on the average with -25 %. This decline results in a mild thyroid deficiency in aging adults, which is contrary to what many may believe not a healthy adaptation of thyroid function to aging but an unhealthy event reflecting the tear and wear process of the pituitary-thyroid axis with aging.
The increased incidence of thyroid deficiency with age may explain some of the puffiness of the face of aging adults, dry skin, mild obesity, cold extremities, increased incidence of coronary heart disease, and possibly of cancer.  Psychic and mental symptoms such as morning fatigue, depression, slowness, memory loss, etc. are common complaints of elderly adults and may be the consequence of the age-related decline in thyroid hormones.
Contrary to some official guidelines, the best treatment of mild hypothyroidism in aging adult appears not to be the use of solely thyroxine but that of  associations of thyroxine with triiodothyronine.  A major reason for the use of combinations is the slowed conversion of thyroxine to triiodothyronine, due to the aging of the liver.

Practical tips on how to treat thyroid deficiency and solve problems in the follow-up are presented.

 
References:  for references read the Hormone Handbook

 

Thyroid Hormone- What they did not teach you in Medical School.  The importance of T-3 & T-4 and how TSH needs to be looked at differently then what you have been taught A4M Las Vegas 12-2006

The influence on the human body of the very small amount of thyroid hormones that it daily produces, is impressive.  When the production of thyroid hormones abruptly ceases, an individual  in a matter of weeks swell up with myxoedema, looses consciousness and even any feelings, becoming  a human “plant”, dying in coma.

The partial deficiency in thyroid hormones – hypothyroidism - allows life, but a life often miserable with complaints and physical signs typical for the disease.  The increased incidence of age-related thyroid deficiency may explain some of the puffiness of the face of aging adults, dry skin, mild obesity, cold extremities, increased incidence of coronary heart disease, and possibly of cancer.  Psychic and mental symptoms such as morning fatigue, depression, slowness, memory loss, etc. are common complaints of elderly adults that may result from the age-related decline of thyroid hormones.
One of the greatest adverse consequences of thyroid deficiency is a decrease in the production of most other important hormones such as growth hormone, testosterone, female hormones, cortisol, DHEA, etc.

This polyhormonal deficiency leads to premature senescence, which is reversed by thyroid treatment.  

What is the best thyroid treatment?  Despite intensive use and marketing, treatment with thyroxine alone has never been reported to be superior to medications combining both thyroxine (T4) and its much more active metabolite, triiodothyronine (T3). On the contrary, in several studies on human subjects associations of T4 and T3 have been shown to be more efficient.

 
References:  for references read the Hormone Handbook

 

Thyroid disorders   Anti-aging South-Africa Cape Town 10-2005

The influence on the human body of the very small amount of thyroid hormones that it daily produces, is impressive.  When the production of thyroid hormones abruptly ceases, an individual  in a matter of weeks swell up with myxoedema, looses consciousness and even any feelings, becoming  a human “plant”, dying in coma.

The partial deficiency in thyroid hormones – hypothyroidism - allows life, but a life often miserable with complaints and physical signs typical for the disease.  One of the greatest adverse consequences of thyroid deficiency is a decrease in the production of most other important hormones such as growth hormone, testosterone, female hormones, cortisol, DHEA, etc.

This polyhormonal deficiency leads to premature senescence, which is reversed by thyroid treatment.  

What is the best thyroid treatment?  Despite intensive use and marketing, treatment with thyroxine alone has never been reported to be superior to medications combining both thyroxine (T4) and its much more active metabolite, triiodothyronine (T3). On the contrary, in several studies on human subjects associations of T4 and T3 have been shown to be more efficient.

Hyperthyroidism is another condition that occurs rarely, but has equally adverse effects on the body by the sharp increase in overall catabolism it creates, a catabolism also of other hormones such as the sexual and adrenal hormones.  This polyhormonal deficiency caused by the excess in thyroid hormones, causes on its turn a premature aging.  The treatment of hyperthyroidism consists first of all of a search for the cause that more and more in this polluted world may be of toxic origin (coming from materials used in the building of homes, certain cardiac drugs, food or drink contaminants, stress, etc.), and to eradicate the eventually found cause.  Secondly, the physician is well-advised to search for any hormone deficiency that may cause or aggravate such excess in thyroid hormones such as oestrogen or cortisol deficiency, and to correct the deficiency. It is only thirdly – if still necessary – that classical treatment of hyperthyroidism with beta-blockers and anti-thyroidea has its place.  When this sequence of treatment is followed and competently applied, more mutilating treatments such as surgical thyroidectomy and the use of radioactive iodine are almost never necessary.

 
References:  for references read the Hormone Handbook

 

Cortisol– The major hormone of quality of life and longevity when safely used A4M Las Vegas 12-2006

Many authors in the medical literature have suggested that cortisol is an “aging hormone”, a hormone that accelerate aging.  The premature aging processes that occur with excessive cortisol levels is considered by these authors as prove of the hypothesis.  Elevated levels of cortiosol absolutely or relatively to other hormones is indeed found either through an excessive endogenous secretion (Cushing syndrome or disease), either through an excessive exogenous intake of the hormone or one of its synthetic derivative (excess glucocorticoid intake). These excesses are effectively known to cause premature aging.

But, two circumstances make high levels of this hormone particularly unhealthy.  The long-term persistence or chronicity of higher cortisol levels, and deficiencies in antagonistic hormones such as growth hormone, testosterone (in men), DHEA, (endogenous or transdermal, not oral), estradiol, etc.

Careful avoidance of these two conditions may prevent most, if not all, aging effects of cortisol.  

Furthermore, deficiencies in cortisol, even mild forms, may on their turn accelerate aging too.  A condition which may be prevented with adequate cortisol replacement therapy in safe physiological doses.  In these circumstances cortisol work as a powerful “anti-aging hormone” and may, in severe deficiencies, even be life-saving.  Scientific studies have shown beneficial “anti-aging” effects of this hormone on the human psyche and body.  

 
References: for references read the Hormone Handbook

 

Are insulin and cortisol anti-aging hormones ?   Anti-aging World Congress, Paris, 3-2004

Many authors in the medical literature have suggested that insulin and cortisol are “aging hormones”, hormones that accelerate aging.  The premature aging processes that occur with excessive insulin and cortisol levels are considered by these authors as prove of their hypothesis.  Elevated levels of these hormones absolutely or relatively to other hormones may be indeed deleterious and cause premature aging. They may be caused by an excessive endogenous secretion (insulin resistance, diabetes type 2, Cushing syndrome or disease, etc.), or the conasequence of an excessive exogenous intake of these hormones (mainly excess glucocorticoid intake).

But, two conditions make high levels of these hormones particularly unhealthy.  The long-term persistence or chronicity of higher insulin and cortisol levels, and deficiencies in antagonistic hormones as growth hormone, testosterone (in men), DHEA, (endogenous or transdermal, not oral) estradiol, etc.

Careful avoidance of these two conditions may prevent most, if not all, aging effects of insulin and cortisol.  

Furthermore, too low levels of insulin and cortisol deficiencies, even mild forms, may on their turn accelerate aging too.  A condition which may be prevented with adequate insulin and cortisol replacement therapy in safe physiological doses.  In these circumstances insulin and cortisol work as powerful “anti-aging hormones” and may, in severe deficiencies, even be life-saving.  Scientific studies have shown beneficial “anti-aging” effects of these hormones on the human psyche and body.  

 
References: for cortisol references read the Hormone Handbook

 

DHEA deficiency and its natural treatment   Anti-aging South-Africa Cape Town 10-2005

DHEA, dehydroepiandrosterone or also called prasterone, is not only the most produced hormone by the young adult human body, but also by far the most abundant hormone of the human blood: its concentration is 15 to 20 times higher than any other known hormone in blood, at least in the young adult years.

DHEA is a not a new invented drug, but a natural product of the body.

How important is this hormone for heath and longevity?  Positive associations with longevity have so far only been found in aging men, but beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, against cancer, for the skin and bones, on mood and sexuality have been seen in both male and female subjects. The effects of DHEA seem to be milder than those of sex hormones such as oestrogens and testosterone, but nevertheless sufficient to make a treatment worthwhile

Does DHEA replacement present any risks? The relative abundance of scientific literature (more than 10 000 articles on Medline to date relating closely or accessorily to DHEA) shows DHEA therapy to be a much safer than most other hormone treatments.  Very large-scale studies are still lacking.  Very rare unproven evidence of dangerous consequences such as anecdotal reports of case studies may stimulate the need for further research. Experiences in rodents and observational studies in postmenopausal women have suggested a risk of DHEA treatment to postmenopausal women who are not under female hormone replacement.  The oral intake of extreme overdoses of DHEA such as the – almost never used in human - 2 to 3 grams per day– (to compare with the physiological 5 to 50 mg per day) may favour liver cancer. Physiological dosing and giving DHEA in association with other hormones that are lacking, is the primary recommendation for a treatment with this promising molecule.

 
References: for references read the Hormone Handbook and DHEA, l’hormone du mieux-vivre

 

Progesterone therapy in men: crucial for men over 40 ?  A4M Las Vegas 12-2006

If progesterone is best known as a major hormone in women, it appears to be important for men too.

Progesterone is mainly secreted by the adrenal glands in men.

It is a relatively abundant hormone in men.  Progesterone’s serum level exceeds that of major hormones such as dihydrotestosterone, estradiol, aldosterone, triiodothyronine, calcitonin and melatonin. Men have as much progesterone in their blood as women during three quarters of their lifetime. The serum level of progesterone in men is as high as that of young adult women in the follicular phase.

Based on the latest data, it can be assumed that progesterone’s plays a strategic role: avoiding excesses in men of the dominant female hormone, estradiol, and of the most potent male hormone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It is a crucial hormone for endocrine balance.  Fundamental mechanisms used by progesterone to accomplish this task: a speeding up of the conversion of estradiol to the much less potent estrogen estrone and a competitive blocking of the conversion of testosterone to DHT.

The production and levels of progesterone progressively decline with age, slowly installing in men a progesterone deficiency syndrome. The progesterone deficiency syndrome in men is dominated by the consequences of excesses in estradiol and DHT.  Worth mentioning are the gynoid aspect of the body with gynecomastia, benign prostate hypertrophy and excessive stimulation of (ortho)sympatic nervous system, attributable to hyperestrogenemia.  Possible other signs and symptoms are hirsutism with male pattern baldness in men and possibly some degree of excessive genital sensitivity, consequences of excessive levels of dihydrotestosterone in comparison with testosterone.

New light is presented here on some medical enigmas that may be partially or totally due to progesterone deficiency: progressive feminization of the male body with age, male pattern baldness, benign prostate hypertrophy, prostate cancer, men/female libido/sexual sensitivity imbalance with age.  For example, the discrepancy between men and women in sexual interest and sensitivity at age 40 may not only be due to the sharp decline of testosterone, the hormone of desire, in women at that age. It possibly and partially could be due to an increase in libido, caused by hyperestrogenemia, associated to an increasingly rising genital sensitivity and need to ejaculate of men at that age, consequence of an increased DHT to testosterone ratio.  Both hyperestrogenemia and high DHT/testosterone ratio may themselves be consequences of progesterone deficiency and thus trigger partner frustration and quarrels.

Progesterone treatment in men can best be corrected by either the oral intake of micronized progesterone or of a transdermal progesterone liposomal gel. Some improvement in the diet is a plus point. The intake of foods that reduce progesterone production such as sugar, sweets, bread, pastas, soft drinks and alcohol, should be minimized or simply avoided.  These drinks or foods reduce the endocrine secretions of the adrenal cortex that produces progesterone. In addition, foods that tend to increase the levels of estradiol such as caffeinated beverages and alcohol should too become a rare part of the diet.  On the other hand, the intake of foods that increase the adrenal’s production of progesterone such as food rich in protein or healthy saturated fat, deserve to be recommended.


References: for references read the Hormone Handbook

 

Female hormones: how to safely treat women in pre- and postmenopause with estrogens and progesterone  A4M Chicago 7-2006

By far the most efficient way of improving a woman who suffers from menopause and its litanies of uncomfortable complaints and signs is to correct the hormone deficiencies linked to the menopause by hormone supplements.  But is it the safest way?  In order for a female hormone treatment to be safe certain requirements should be fulfilled, basics of every hormone therapy, the most important one is to preferably use bio-identical hormones.

Which are the most important hormone supplements for women suffering from menopause?

Not only traditional female hormones such as oestrogens and progesterone, but also two hormones considered as “male” hormones, testosterone and DHEA.

Testosterone, the powerful hormone of mental assertiveness, improved mood, sex drive .. and love, is central to treatments of menopause, but should not be given without a sufficient amount of female hormones in order to avoid adverse effects such as acne or body hair growth.  Such adverse effects are luckily reversible.

But deficiencies in female hormones appear in women before menopause, which contrasts with the fact that most women get treated with female hormones only after menopause.  This is apparently too late. The ovaries begin to progressively fail long before menopause.  Some women even get into problems already at puberty.   Premenopausal deficiencies too should be treated and how to do it safely and efficiently is discussed in this lecture.

 
References: for references read the Hormone Handbook

 

Estrogen and progesterone treatment: getting out of the controversy  Anti-aging South-Africa Cape Town 10-2005

By far the most efficient way of improving a woman who suffers from menopause and its litanies of uncomfortable complaints and signs is to correct the hormone deficiencies linked to the menopause by hormone supplements.  But is it the safest way?  

The increased risk of breast cancer, heart attack and dementia with female hormone therapies found in two major studies brought a set back to anti-aging therapies, especially to the use of female hormone replacement.  Patients under the emotion stopped their female hormone therapies. Others using other kinds of hormone replacement felt alarmed and tended to stop their therapies too.  People are afraid to harm their body if they continue such therapies.

After the storm of overreaction and misinterpretation, good sense comes slowly back and the data are calmly analyzed.  In many critical publications, the conclusion is that safer female hormone therapies do exist.  

In order for these treatments to be safe certain basic requirements for every hormone therapy should be fulfilled the most important one is to preferably use bio-identical hormones.  Among other measures are the use of small, physiological doses (avoiding overdoses) and the correct balancing of the hormone system (and rarely the use of one hormone alone, because of the risk of unbalancing the system).

Generally, women are treated with female hormones, only after menopause.  This may be too late. Most women suffer from hormone deficiencies due to progressively failing ovaries long before menopause.  Some even have problems since puberty.   These deficiencies too, should be treated safely and efficiently.


References: for references read the Hormone Handbook

 

Testosterone therapy in women: a major anti-aging treatment ? Anti-aging South-Africa Cape Town 10-2005   A4M Las Vegas 12-2005

One of the most neglected endocrine deficiencies in women is testosterone insufficiency.  Serum testosterone slowly decreases in adult women, climaxing at age 18-23 yrs to slowly decrease afterwards year after year.  One study showed women of age 40 to have a mean testosterone level that is more than 50 % lower than women of age 21.  

Testosterone deficiency may cause in women a panoply of symptoms often termed as ‘psychic’ or even ‘hysterical’ but due mainly to the low hormone level: fatigue, anxiety, excessive emotional reactions, depression, low sex drive. In the years 1950’s high doses of testosterone were successfully used to overcome in postmenopausal women severe depressive states that were refractory to classical medications and psychotherapy.  Actually, much smaller and safer doses are used with equal efficacy. Testosterone deficiency may also have adverse somatic consequences such as bone loss, cellulite, muscle weakness and even premature carotid artery atherosclerosis in women.  

What is the best testosterone treatment for women?  Apparently, 3 to 10 mg per day of transdermal testosterone and more rarely once per month a 40 to 50 mg intramuscular injection of testosterone enanthate provide the best results, but some sublingual, oral and implanted forms may be satisfying.  

 
References: for references read the Hormone Handbook

 

Treating partial deficiency of testosterone in men  International Anti-aging conference London 5-2004, Anti-aging South-Africa Cape Town 10-2005  

With advancing age, the level of bioavailable testosterone declines slowly but progressively in men, causing what is called “Partial Androgen Deficiency Syndrome in Aging Men” (PADAM).  This PADAM responds in general well to testosterone treatment.  Supposed but not proven risks include increased incidence of prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease. In fact, scientific studies report opposite information: testosterone is rather to be beneficial in these conditions!  More aggressive prostate cancer is found in men with low testosterone, and an improvement with testosterone treatment is reported in men with cardiovascular disease!  

Treating testosterone deficiency in men may differ from one individual to another.

The type and doses of testosterone treatment to administer depends on the degree of deficiency, the dominant symptoms and health consequences, the state of the digestive tract and eventually the skin (in the decision of using transdermal or not), and last but not least the age of the male patient.

Choosing the best type and dose of testosterone treatment is crucial.  

 

References: for references read the Hormone Handbook
 


The psychology of centenarians and its hormonal roots A4M 12-2005, EMA Paris 10-2006, Semal Madrid 11-2006

Centenarians, and even more supercentenarians behave differently than the average person:

They tend to be more positive minded (tend to see the sunny side of life), have a strong will to live, a stronger belief in higher values including spirituality and religion, have more humour, laugh more and have greater fun.  Once they become an elderly, or even before that time, they often behave in a more nonconformist way.  Centenarians feel often young inside their old body. They tend to irradiate more love than other an “average” younger elderly person.  The reaction of centenarians to stressful events is better adapted. They tend to avoid stress, but when confronted with problems, try to solve them quickly and efficiently. Centenarians tend not to waste time by attributing to others the difficulties they encounter, but put all their energy in finding solutions to overcome the problem, as they interpret problems as normal tests laid out for them on their destiny to become better persons.  Their will to live and reaction to stress is so solid that they are not only able to survive the death of their spouse but also that of their children. They accept to live with physical handicaps as long as their mind continues to function well. In contrast with the majority of elderly persons, centenarians accept to grow old and even very old.

Is there a hormonal base that supports the centenarians’ beneficial attitudes towards life?  In other words: does part of the centenarians’ secret to longevity rely on a better balanced endocrine system that helps them to feel better and develop more efficient psychological attitudes?    In this lecture, the role of testosterone in men and … women, of growth hormone, estradiol, thyroid hormones and cortisol, in boosting psychological attitudes so that the individual may live longer is reviewed and investigated showing the scientific studies on the subject.

 
References: for references please read the author’s articles on the subject in the Journal of European Anti-Aging Medicine, October 2006 & March 2007 issues

 

Parkinson’s disease:  irreversible or .. not ?  EMA Paris 10-2006

So many studies can be found on Parkinson’s disease, but virtually almost no results, no hope.  Only a handful of studies have demonstrated encouraging results. But we are possibly at a turning point in time. Parkinson’s disease may respond better than other neurodegenerative diseases to treatment.  New scientific data is shown here.  Various nutritional supplements may be helpful.  Vitamin A, B3, B6, C, D, E, fatty acids, glutathione, Co Q10, zinc, selenium, magnesium, carnitine, etc.  Taking milk, coffee, toxic load, out of the diet. And last but not least hormone replacement therapies such as thyroid and sex hormone treatments.  Some experimental evidence is shown that growth hormone replacement may play a major role in stabilising and even reversing Parkinson’s disease.

 

References:
The psychology of happiness: the scientific evidence EMA Paris 10-2006

What if happiness does “not” exist? This seems to be the case in medical science.  The term is probably too vague and too subjective to be objectively studied.  Scientific researchers have preferred the terms of well-being and quality of life. In this lecture the scientific evidence on well-being-happiness are reviewed and the effect on cardiovascular diseases, cancer and mortality investigated.  Happy people may not only have less disease, but also live longer.  Promoting openly happiness and strategies to increase our levels of happiness should take integral . Some evidence supports the view of being happier may extend life by 4 to 11 years of extra life, of a life of quality.


References: for references please read the author’s articles on the subject in the Journal of European Anti-Aging Medicine, October 2006 & March 2007 issues