Obesity and Decreased Hormone Production

Researchers writing in the medical journal Clinical Endocrinology say that “Obesity may predict greater decline in testosterone and SHBG levels with age.”

Derby CA, Zilber S, Brambilla D, Morales KH, McKinlay JB. Body mass index, waist circumference and waist to hip ratio and change in sex steroid hormones: the Massachusetts Male Ageing Study. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2006 Jul 1;65(1):125-31.

From the study abstract:
Objective Cross-sectional data suggest that obesity, particularly central obesity, may be associated with decreased production of sex steroid hormones in men. However, longitudinal hormone data on men in relation to obesity status are limited. Previous studies have not consistently demonstrated whether sex steroids are associated specifically to body mass index or to measures of central obesity.

Our objective was to examine the relation of obesity and of central obesity to longitudinal change in sex steroid hormones in men.

Measurements Free and total testosterone (FT and TT), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were assessed using standardized methods. Health behaviours and medical history were obtained by structured interview.

Repeated measures regression was used to describe trends in steroid hormones and SHBG in relation to obesity status, adjusting for age, smoking, alcohol, comorbidities, and physical activity.

Results: Obesity was associated with decreased levels of total and free testosterone, and of SHBG at follow-up relative to baseline. For any given baseline concentration of TT, FT or SHBG, follow-up levels were lowest among men who remained obese or who became obese during follow-up.

This was true for all three indices of obesity. Central adiposity was associated with lower DHEAS levels at follow-up, while elevated body mass index was not.

Conclusions: Obesity may predict greater decline in testosterone and SHBG levels with age. Central adiposity may be a more important predictor of decline in DHEAS than is body mass index.

Aging Men and Their Hormones

Writing in the medical journal Minerva Ginecologica, researchers say that “The ability to maintain active and independent living for as long as possible is a crucial factor for (aging healthfully)” and that “Interventions such as hormone replacement therapy may alleviate the debilitating conditions of secondary partial endocrine deficiencies by preventing the preventable and delaying the inevitable.”

Lunenfeld B. Endocrinology of the aging male. Minerva Ginecol. 2006 Apr;58(2):153-70.

From the study abstract:
“Despite enormous medical progress during the past few decades, the last years of life are still accompanied by increasing ill health and disability.

The ability to maintain active and independent living for as long as possible is a crucial factor for ageing healthily and with dignity. The most important and drastic gender differences in aging are related to the reproductive organs. In distinction to the course of reproductive ageing in women, with the rapid decline in sex hormones expressed by the cessation of menses, men experience a slow and continuous decline. This decline in endocrine function involves: a decrease of testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), oestrogens, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), growth hormone (GH), IGF1, and melatonin.

The decrease of sex hormones is concomitant with a temporary increase of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). In addition sex hormone binding globulins (SHBG) increase with age resulting in further lowering the concentrations of free biologically active androgens.

These hormonal changes are directly or indirectly associated with changes in body constitution, fat distribution (visceral obesity), muscle weakness, osteopenia, osteoporosis, urinary incontinence, loss of cognitive functioning, reduction in well being, depression, as well as sexual dysfunction.

The laboratory and clinical findings of partial endocrine deficiencies in the aging male will be described and discussed in detail. With the prolongation of life expectancy both women and men today live 1/3 of their life with endocrine deficiencies. Interventions such as hormone replacement therapy may alleviate the debilitating conditions of secondary partial endocrine deficiencies by preventing the preventable and delaying the inevitable.”

Article Notes:
Luteinizing hormone is produced in the pituary gland and helps regulate the production of testosterone.
Follicle-stimulating hormone is produced in the pituary gland and helps regulate the production of sperm.

What is DHEA?

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a naturally produced steroid made by the adrenal glands. It is derived from cholesterol and when metabolized in the liver, a sulfate is added converting it into DHEA-sulfate (DHEA-S).

DHEA is made in greater quantities than any other hormone in the body, it reaches its peak levels while we are in our early 20’s and then begins a dramatic drop to 20% of those levels by the time we reach age 70. It is this drastic drop in the body’s most prevalent hormone that led researchers to conjecture that DHEA may play a very large role in the disease and aging process.

Clinical Use

As part of our Age Management program, DHEA is given in its oral form, and in typical doses of 25-50 mg a day for men, and less for females depending on their baseline levels.

Typically DHEA supplementation is started after the age of 40 but earlier in cases of deficiency and apparent symptoms warranting testing (chronic fatigue, and immune system disorder among others). The goal of DHEA supplementation, like all hormone addition, is not to over supplement but to gently fine tune the body’s levels. Like all hormone supplementation, we check blood levels 12 weeks after initiation of therapy to insure proper dosing.

As part of an age management program our goals are to:
– Increase quality of life
– Increase vitality and energy
– Facilitate weight loss (if needed)
– Decrease Fat
– Increase memory function
– Increase sex drive and performance
– Enhance the immune system function
– Lower overall risk of disease such as heart disease and diabetes mellitis

It must be stressed that DHEA is not a self-administering supplement, and that blood tests and careful monitoring are needed to determine proper dosage.

DHEA Research
DHEA MAIN PAGE

Dr. Darrow Interviewed on KCAL-9 CBS News : Healthwatch

August 3, 2006

Healthwatch this afternoon: Is having dinner in bed the only thing that is hot about your love life, you might want to consider professional help.

Some doctors are using hormones to enhance the love life of some couples. Dilva Henry is here with more.

Dilva Henry: We hope it doesn’t apply to too many people out there, but for many people, definitely an issue. If the sizzle that use to be a big part of your romance has fizzled, there is hope, more and more couples are turning to hormones to get that loving feeling back.

Suzanne A is like many women going through menopause, hot flashes, mood swings, lots of sleepless nights, and her libido almost non-existent.

Suzanne: It was totally a lack of interest, the desire wasn’t there at all, there was no way to make you feel romantic, or ever like it was ever going to be part of your life again.

Husband John: It was frustrating, and it was stressful, it created a lot of anxiety.

Dilva Henry: But husband John tried his best to be considerate and patient.

Suzanne: If it was frustrating, he was very good. I was very lucky in that.

Dilva Henry: John’s patience paid off, Suzanne went through a series of tests checking hormone levels,
results showed her testosterone was also almost non-existent. Anti-Aging specialist, Dr. Marc Darrow:

Dr. Darrow: Her libido was gone, her sensitivity was down because her testosterone was down to nothing and that is usually a very easy thing to revitalize by just using testosterone.

Dilva Henry: And women aren’t the only ones susceptible to a low libido.

Dr. Darrow: Now on the male side we have the same issues as with the female….typically it happens a little later in life. Then we find that there is a loss of libido.

Dilva Henry: Doctors now know hormone supplements can also help men. If you can’t tolerate testosterone for some reason…

Dr. Darrow: Sometimes I give men progesterone, a woman’s hormone? No, it’s a hormone for men.

Dilva Henry: All explained in Dr. Darrow’s upcoming book, Loving Happily Every After

Dr. Darrow: The person has to be able to change their lifestyle in order to become a healthier person, a happier person.

Dilva Henry: And Suzanne did just that

Suzanne: It is very much back, and its back in almost a better way than it was when you were younger. You don’t have the children at home.

Husband John: It made a big difference and it just makes the whole relationship entirely different.

Dilva Henry: They are both happy now, when dealing with hormones it is very important to be in the hands of an expert and not self-medicate or buy products that you, your doctor, or your nutritionist, perhaps are not familiar with. For more information on hormone treatment and testing you can call Dr. Marc Darrow at 310- 231-7000.

She didn’t have any side-effects, really, some people might, but that is another thing that has to be discussed with your doctor. They are very happy they couldn’t be more loving and life is good again. Dinner is back on the table, and everything else is back in the bedroom.

Hormone Supplementation

HORMONE  SUPPLEMENTATION
An indisputable fact in medicine is that we do age. Another fact that is indisputable, at least for the very foreseeable future, is that you will not live forever. However, there is a great likelihood that you can enjoy a quality of life of vitality well into your senior years because of research into the medical science of hormone replacement and supplementation.

Aging: Fight it or embrace it?
The average life span of an American continues to increase. The current life expectancy of 72 (male) and 79 (female) increases into the mid-eighties IF you can make it to age 65 and now, British researchers think that if you make it to 65 you can get a few more years and should make it to 90! It is also estimated by many gerontologists that by 2050, life expectancy will be well over 100 years old and that there will be millions of Americans at those ages. So if you are 50 now, in the year 2006, the odds will be pretty good that with a healthy lifestyle and regular physical examinations you will make it to vote in the 2056 Presidential Elections.

 

Is living longer any good if you are not “living?”
With any discussion about increased life expectancy comes the question posed by many: “Do I want to live longer if my mental and physical abilities are impaired?”

There are many who say that we should not seek to live longer if living longer means institutional care, living with chronic pain from disease, or living with impaired mental faculties. But is this the only lifestyle option there is with advanced age? Disability?

There are a growing number of doctors who say that old age does not inevitably bring disability. That the key to enjoying our later years, that is remaining active, mentally alert and independent may rest with hormone replacement therapy.

Can we really control the aging process?

Is it possible to roll back the hands of time and give ourselves a more youthful vigor even when we reach ages that doctors tell us we should consider vitality a thing of the past?

Hormone supplementation is a choice, one that needs to be made by a patient who understands the realistic goals of its benefits and a practitioner who understands the need of moderation—doing just enough and not more to enhance the delicate hormonal balance of our bodies.

What are hormones?
What is hormone supplementation?
How does it enhance vitality even as we age?

Hormones are chemicals within our bodies responsible for many things including the regulation of our metabolism, immune function, blood pressure, sugar levels, body temperature as well as a host of other

Hormone Supplementation Parts 1 2 3