Transcript Natural Hormones, Stowe UT 2006

Restorative Medicine Conference
Stowe, VT 2006
Integrative
Natural Hormonal
Modulation
By Al Sears, MD
First Things First
What’s a Hormone?
 And… What’s not?
 New from:
The Department of
Redundancy Department

Why?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Hormones involved in everything.
Often most natural option.
Disease = loss of homeostasis =
hormonal imbalance.
Bridge gap between disease Rx and
health improvement.
We are born into altered environs.
Hormones are primary mediators of
aging.
How?
In Preferred Order
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Enlightenment
Activity Guidance
Food
Exercise
Nutritional Supplements
Exogenous Hormones
Herbal Supplements
5 Modern Hormonal Epidemics
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Hyperinsulinemia
Vitamin D Deficiency
Adrenal Fatigue
Estrogen Excess
Abnormal Aging
Hyperinsulinemia






Cholesterolemia (with Iatrogenic Cascade)
Heart Disease
Obesity
Fatigue
Accelerated Aging
Environmental Diabetes
Heart Disease: # 1 Killer
 Heart disease claims 950,000 lives
each year.
More than half who die are women.
 Heart disease claims more women’s
lives than next 6 killers combined.
Each minute another woman dies
from heart disease.
"Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2005 Update," American Heart
Association.
Cholesterol Mistake
Cholesterol is the Most
Fundamentally Important
Hormone Precursor!
Cholesterol Provides the Basic
Building Blocks for ALL Steroid
Hormones
Cholesterol: The Red Herring
80% of people who have
heart attacks have the
same cholesterol profiles
as those who don’t have
heart attacks.
National Cholesterol Education
Program


Cholesterol-lowering drugs are being
prescribed to 13 million people.
The new NCEP guidelines include
more people. Under new guidelines,
the number may climb to 36 million
But Who Is the NCEP?




8 of the 9 NCEP doctors made money
from cholesterol-lowering drugs.
2 own stock in statin drugs.
2 others worked for drug companies
after setting the guidelines.
One was a consultant for 10 drug
companies.
Source: USA Today, October, 2004.
Cholesterol Drugs




Lipitor made $8 billion for Pfizer
last year.
Pfizer sponsors studies for
journals. Recent Pfizer study
concluded that people with
normal cholesterols benefit.
Statins block production of
CoQ10.
Fatique and muscle soreness
prevents exercise.
J-Lit (2002)





Japanese Lipid Intervention Trial
6-year study of 47,294 taking simvastatin
No correlation between LDL reduction and
death rate
LDL below 80 had death rate of 3.5 at 5
years
LDL over 200 had death rate of 3.5 at 5
years
Statins and Plaque






American Journal of Cardiology, 2003
Examination of coronary plaque buildup in
182 people taking statins
One group took over 80mg a day
The other group took less than 80mg a
day
No correlation between statins and plaque
reduction– at either dose
At the end of 1 year, both groups showed
a 9.2 percent increase in plaque buildup
Statins and Women
ASCOT-LLA (2003)
 Lipitor vs. Placebo over 3 years
 No statistical difference in heart
attacks, strokes, or mortality.
The University of British Columbia
Therapeutics Initiative
 Statins offer no benefit to women for
prevention of heart disease
Statins Side Effects, Pt. 1
Muscle Weakness: Most common
problem is fatigue. Study found 98%
taking Lipitor had muscle problems.
Can be debilitating. Rhabdomyolysis,
can kill.
Neuropathy: Permanent nerve
damage. Starts as weakness, tingling
in the hands and feet. Statins
increase risk with duration. After one
year, risk is 15 percent higher. After
two years, 26 percent higher.

Statins Side Effects, Pt. 2

Heart Failure: Statins deplete

Memory Loss: Many have trouble
CoQ10, risk of heart failure climbs
with dose and duration. In the first
eight years statins were available,
deaths from congestive heart failure
more than doubled.
recalling basic facts about lives – like
how old they are or where they live.
Some experience global transient
amnesia, complete memory loss for
a brief period.
Statin Side Effects, Pt. 3


Depression: Multiple studies link
low cholesterol and cholesterol
treatment with depression
39 percent of women with low
cholesterol have depression
HDL More Important than LDL
Castiglioni A, Neuman R. HDL Cholesterol: What Is Its True Clinical
Significance? Emergency Medicine. Jan 2003. p30-42.
The Best Predictor of CV Risk


Physician’s Health Study - 15,000 men
High homocysteine = 3 times heart
attack risk regardless of cholesterol
20 studies linked homocysteine and
cardiac events


You can lower homocysteine with B
vitamins at less than $10 per month
BIOLOGICAL MARKERS

INSULIN plays a key role in aging…
•
•
•
•
Increases with age
Tells body to build fat
Keep insulin level below 20
Below 10 even better
Case Study: CF's Body
Composition
Weight
% of
Fat
325 283
55
226 222 221
42
15
8
7
Fat LBS 177
119
33
18
15
L.B.M
164
148
193 205 206
The Big Fat Lie
Typical American Diet
Fats
35%
Protein
16%
Carbs
49%
Pre-Agricultural Diet
Fats
38%
Protein
31%
Carbs
31%
Low Glycemic Load vs. Low Fat
Diet
 Low GL diet decreases clotting
agent plasminogen by 39% vs. a
33% increase from a low fat diet.1
 High GL consumption nearly
doubles relative risk of heart
disease in women.2
1. Ebbeling CB, et al. Effects of an ad libitum low-glycemic load diet on
cardiovascular disease risk factors in obese young adults. Am J Clin Nutr 2005;
81(5): 976-82
2. Liu S, Willett WC, et al. A prospective study of dietary glycemic load,
carbohydrate intake, and risk of coronary heart disease in US women. Am J Clin
Nutr 2000; 71(6): 1455-61
More Advantages to Low
Glycemic Load Diet
 Low GL diet decreases abdominal
obesity better than low fat diet.
 Low GL diet increases HDL
cholesterol levels -- low fat diet has
no effect on HDL levels.
 Low GL diet lowers fasting blood
glucose -- low fat diet increases it.
Lahaye SA, et al. Comparison between a low glycemic load diet and a
Canada Food Guide diet in cardiac rehabilitation patients in Ontario.
Can J Cariol 2005; 21(6): 489-94
High Glycemic Foods
Potato (white, boiled) Rice Krispies
104
82
French Baguette
95 French Fries
76
Corn Flakes
92 Bagel (white)
71
Instant Rice
91 Mac & Cheese
64
Low Glycemic Foods
Grapes
43
Grapefruit
25 Eggs
0
Cherries
22 Spinach
0
0 Walnuts
0
Beef
Chicken
0
Vitamin D as a Hormone
Strengthens immunity
Reduces inflammation
Prevents cancer
Prevents multiple sclerosis
Increases muscle strength
Prevents diabetes
Lowers blood sugar
Increases insulin
sensitivity
Reduces cavities
Improves mood
Prevents depression
Strengthens bones
Prevents arthritis
Reduces risk of heart
attack
Lowers blood pressure
Reduces cholesterol
Balances other hormones
Eliminates PMS
Prevents hearing loss
Improves reaction time
Increases balance
Eliminates back pain
Boosts fertility both sexes
Raises libido
Balances sleep cycles
Optimizes weight
Change in an Ancient Relationship

98% of time humans on this planet, we lived
naked in the sun, near the equator
The shift to indoors sudden and recent change
If evolutionary period single day:
 Last day we migrated away from equator
 Last few hours we put on clothes
 Last few minutes we started working inside
 Last minute we started traveling in vehicles
 Last second we covered ourselves in sunscreen
Sun Wrongly Blamed for
Prevalence of Skin Cancer



Skin cancer rare before 1930 – when
many worked outside
Rate of melanoma up 1,800% since our
grandparents generation
Rate of melanoma up 400% since mid
1970s – start of public awareness
regarding “sun protection”
Endemic of Vitamin D Deficiency
• 50,000-70,000 Cancer deaths in US
every year from insufficient vitamin D
• 300,000 Deaths in US (all cause) every
year from insufficient vitamin D
• 85% of the population is deficient to
some degree
• Nearly 100% of African-Americans are
vitamin D deficient
Vitamin D Reference Ranges



The ridiculously low Government’s
RDA:
• 200 IU of vit D for infants
• 200 IU men & women 1-50 years
• 400 IU for those 50 to 70 years
• 600 IU for people over 70
Healthy adult uses 3,000 to 5,000
units per day (if it is available)
You need 3,000 to 5,000 IU
cholecalciferol /day from all sources
Vitamin D Replacement
• Sunlight – 15 minutes a day
• Cod liver oil
(400 IU / tsp)
• Wild Salmon
• Sardines
• Vitamin D supplements
Adrenal Fatigue

The most misdiagnosed in US today

Stuck in “fight or flight” mode

Bloodstream repeatedly flooded with
adrenaline and cortisol with eventual
chronic suppression of DHEA.
Adrenal Response


Natural “fight or flight” response
evolved to deal with different world
of ancient times
Today’s loud/stressful environment
over stimulates adrenals and
constantly triggers “fight or flight”
Signs of Deficiency








Muscle wasting
Bone loss
Increased body fat
Anxiety, worry, irritability
Tendonitis, fasciitis, bursitis
Chronic fatigue
Multiple chronic diseases
Sequential cascade
DHEA: Reference Ranges
Men:
Serum – 110 to 370 mcg/dL
Saliva – 137 to 336 pg/ml
Women:
Serum – 40 to 325 mcg/dL
Saliva – 106 to 300 pg/ml
Rebalancing DHEA






Martial Arts
Meditation
Acupuncture
Yoga
Massage
PACE exercise program
Boosting DHEA
DHEA Supplementation:
Start with 5 mg a day.
No more than 10 mg a day
without testing blood levels.
Course often only 1-3 mos.
Adrenal recovery common.
Case Study: “DC”
Adrenal Fatigue
Treatment: DHEA
November, 64
2002
mcg/dL
April,
2004
377
mcg/dL
August,
2006
505
mcg/dL
PACE & DHEA
Training for Recovery


Periods of “exertion and recovery”
retrain your body to recover from
stress
Allows your body to exit “fight or
flight” response
Estrogen Excess Syndrome





Adulterated Food Supply
Endocrine Disruptors in thousands of
everyday products
Precocious Puberty – Girls reaching
puberty by age 6
Men developing feminine features
Growing rates of hormone based
cancers – breast, ovarian,
endometrial, cervical & prostatic
Xenoestrogens Affects Fertility

15% of US couples are infertile

In 30% to 40% of these cases, male
infertility is the problem


British researchers suspected estrogenmimicking chemical HPTE, commonly
found in pesticides
By experimenting on rats, they found that
HPTE directly interferes with testosterone
production in the testes
Estrogen and Men’s Health
1.Tufts University found that crop dusters who
handled estrogen-impersonating pesticides:
> Lost their sexual desire
> Developed very low sperm counts
2.German researchers found that estrogen
levels in prostatic tissue increase as men get
older
3.The journal Prostate reported that estrogen
increases your risk of benign prostatic
hyperplasia (BPH)
4.Japanese researchers discovered link
between estrogens and prostate size:
“Estrogens are the key hormones for the
induction and development of BPH”
Estrogen: Reference Ranges
Men:
Serum - < 130 pg/mL
Saliva - < 2.5 pg/mL
Women:
Serum –
Early Follicular Phase – 70 to 400 pm/mL
Late Follicular Phase – 100 to 900 pm/mL
Luteal Phase – 70 to 700 pm/mL
Postmenopausal - < 130 pm/mL
Saliva –
Pre-menopausal – 1 to 10.8
Post-menopausal – 1 to 3.2
Symptoms of Estrogen in Men
•
•
•
•
•
•
Feminization: Gynecomastia
Fat gain
Muscle loss
Cancer
Loss of sex drive
Moodiness & depression
Dangers of a Plastic World
Endocrine Disruptors:
Chemicals in everyday products that
mimic estrogen
Vinyl flooring, Deodorants, Hair
spray, Moisturizers, Pesticides,
Detergents, Perfumes, Garden hoses,
Fertilizers, Shampoo, Inflatable toys,
Plastics
Estrogen Dangers:
2 Big Offenders



Bisphenol A and Phthalates:
Chemicals have structures that look
strikingly similar to estrogen.
Perfluorooctanoic acids (PFOA): CDC
results: Every person tested - without
exception - had trace amounts of
these chemicals in their bloodstream.
Jim Pirkle, deputy director at the
CDC's Environmental Laboratory: "The
big concern with phthalates is that
they have anti-androgen activity."
Reduce Estrogens Daily:






Drink only purified water.
Trim excess fat from meat before
cooking. (Hormones only in fat.)
Estrogen-fighting foods: Berries,
citrus, pineapples, pears, grapes,
squash, onions, green beans, figs,
melons and pumpkin seeds.
Cruciferous vegetables: Broccoli,
cauliflower, Brussels’s sprouts,
cabbage - excrete estrogen.
Vegetables high in fiber. Longer stool
in bowel, more estrogen absorbed.
Free-range poultry and grass-fed beef
whenever possible.
Case Study: B.C.
Estrogen
Levels:
April,
2003
180
pg/mL
Treatment:
July, 2003 178
pg/mL
DIM 400 mg
/day
PACE TIW
August,
2003
149
pg/mL
October,
2003
134
pg/mL
BC: Before & After
Case Study: “KB”
Post-Menopausal;
Estrogen Levels
August,
2005
543
pg/mL
Treatment: DIM
October,
2005
268
pg/mL
December, 171
2005
pg/mL
Androgens
Testosterone Precursors
Treatment Dosages
Androstenedione ---- 10mg
4-Androstendediol ---- 5mg
19-Nor-4 Androstenedione ---- 5mg
19-Nor- 4-Androstendediol ---- 5mg
BIOLOGICAL MARKERS





Testosterone/Estrogen Ratio
Low Testosterone – loss of energy,
mental clarity, bone density, muscle
mass and sexual activity M & W.
High Estrogen – obesity, uterine and
breast cancer for women, prostate
disease for men
Men: 4 to 1
PM Women: from 1 to 2 to 1 to 4
Case Study: “VT”
Body Composition
Weight
125 125 118 112 114 118
% of Fat
27
20
17
16
15
13
LBS of Fat
34
25
20
17
17
15
L.B.M
91 100
98
95
97 103
Testosterone Reference Ranges
Men:
Serum – 241 to 827 ng/dL
Saliva – 30.1 to 142.5 pg/mL
Women:
Serum – 20 to 76 ng/dL
Saliva – 4.5 to 49 pg/mL
Treatment Strategies
Boosting Testosterone:
 Increase protein and fat in diet
 Oral precursor androgens
 Testosterone shots, gels, patches
 PACE
Lowering Estrogen:
 DIM
 Indole-3 Carbinol
 Chrysin
 Durational exercise or PACE
Case Study: “DF”
Initial Meeting: 12/2004
Testosterone: 42
Most Recent Follow Up:
7/2006
Testosterone: 410
Dangers of Testosterone
Replacement
Estrogen Excess
Dihydrotestosterone
Converted from testosterone




Loss of free testosterone
Loss of hair
Prostate growth – BPH
Rx = DHT blockers + progesterone
BIOLOGICAL MARKERS

INSULIN plays a key role in aging…
(Even if you’re not diabetic.)
• Increases with age
• Tells body to build fat
• Keep insulin level below 20
• Below 10 even better
Hyperinsulinemia




Treatment Options
Low Glycemic Diet
Non-Traditional Exercise
(Periods of Exertion and Recovery)
Chromium GTF
Gymnema sylvestre
Changes that Occur with Aging
Lung capacity
 Cardiac output
 Muscle mass
 Bone density
 Excess fat

Age Related Loss of Lung Function
100
90
Percent Remaining
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
30
40
50
60
70
AGE
Vital Capacity
Maximal Breathing Capacity
80
PHYSICAL
MARKERS
Maximum Heart
Rate
190
Heart Rate
180
170
160
150
140
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
Resources
Websites:
www.AlSearsMD.com
www.WellnessResearch.org
Additional Information



12 Secrets to Virility (Download)
http://www.AlSearsMD.com/stoweconf
Slideshow:
http://www.AlSearsMD.com/Stowe/slideshow
Health Confidential Newsletter:
http://www.AlSearsMD.com/healthconfidential
s/HCE8.html