Exercise and Menopausal Symptoms

Researchers writing in the British Journal of General Practice say that their study “suggest(s) a positive association between somatic and psychological dimensions of health-related quality of life and participation in regular exercise. Women with BMI scores in the normal range reported lower vasomotor symptom scores and better health-related quality of life scores than heavier women.”

Daley A, Macarthur C, Stokes-Lampard H, McManus R, Wilson S, Mutrie N. Exercise participation, body mass index, and health-related quality of life in women of menopausal age. Br J Gen Pract. 2007 Feb;57(535):130-5.

BACKGROUND: Menopausal symptoms can affect women’s health and wellbeing. It is important to develop interventions to alleviate symptoms, especially given recent evidence resulting in many women no longer choosing to take hormone replacement therapy. Exercise may prove useful in alleviating symptoms, although evidence on its effectiveness has been conflicting.
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Heart Health

Testosterone May Protect Against Hardening Of The Arteries
Testosterone supplementation has received a fair share of “bad press.” Mostly due to health problems (sterility, coronary artery disease, liver damage, and brain tumors), caused in young men and women who should not be taking testosterone supplementation, but do so at super-physiological doses, to enhance athletic performance.

The Sooner You Cut Your Risk For Cardiovascular Disease The Longer You Will Live
Writing in the medical journal Circulation, researchers say that if you are at low risk for cardiovascular disease at age 50, it is unlikely that you will suffer from heart disease in your lifetime and that compared to others in the same age group with higher risk, men could expect to live 11 more years and women 9 more years.

Does Being Optimistic Really Lower Risk From Cardiovascular Disease in Elderly Men?
Researchers writing in the medical journal the Archives of Internal Medicine say that having an optimistic outlook, DOES lower mortality risk associated with cardiovascular disease.

Menopause and Heart Disease
researchers writing in the medical journal Climacteric say that “an ideal hormone replacement therapy that can overcome hypertension, prevent body weight gain and control serum triglycerides offers an important advance in cardiovascular risk management during the menopause.”

Testosterone, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease
New research says Testosterone may have a protective role in the development of metabolic syndrome and subsequent diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease in aging men.

DHEA Selected Research

Relationship between serum sex steroids and Aging Male Symptoms score and International Index of Erectile Function.
“CONCLUSIONS: Although aging male symptoms and the effects of hormonal changes on these symptoms have been controversial, DHEA-S and E(2) (Estradiol) might play some important roles in the symptoms of aging men.”

Basar MM, Aydin G, Mert HC, Keles I, Caglayan O, Orkun S, Batislam E. Relationship between serum sex steroids and Aging Male Symptoms score and International Index of Erectile Function. Urology. 2005 Sep;66(3):597-601.

Dehydroepiandrosterone treatment in the aging male–what should the urologist know?
“CONCLUSION: Although long-term clinical trials (applying the standards of evidence-based methods) are not available at present, the consistency of the data and the extensive practical experience may justify the use of DHEA in aging men given the rules of classical endocrinology are thoroughly followed including diagnosis based on clinical picture and biochemical evidence, compliance to periodic evaluations, and individual dose adjustment to maintain serum concentrations in the physiological range of young males. Being one among other important hormonal factors, DHEA can delay and correct age-related disorders only to a certain degree

Saad F, Hoesl CE, Oettel M, Fauteck JD, Rommler A. Dehydroepiandrosterone treatment in the aging male–what should the urologist know? Eur Urol. 2005 Nov;48(5):724-33; discussion 733. Epub 2005 Jul 18.

Effects of replacement dose of dehydroepiandrosterone in men and women of advancing age.
Morales AJ, Nolan JJ, Nelson JC, Yen SS. Effects of replacement dose of dehydroepiandrosterone in men and women of advancing age. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1994 Jun;78(6):1360-7.

Study: The researchers sought to test the effect of Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulfate (DS) replacement on aging.

Noted the researchers: “…observations together with improvement of physical and psychological well-being in both genders and the absence of side-effects constitute the first demonstration of novel effects of DHEA replacement in age-advanced men and women.”

Activation of immune function by dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in age-advanced men.
Khorram O, Vu L, Yen SS. J Gerontol A. Activation of immune function by dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in age-advanced men. Biol Sci Med Sci 1997 Jan;52(1):M1-7

Study: the researchers sought to study DHEA’s effect on the human immune system.

The researchers stated: “Administration of oral DHEA at a daily dose of 50 mg to age-advanced men with low serum DHEA-S levels significantly activated immune function. While extended studies are required, our findings suggest potential therapeutic benefits of DHEA in immunodeficient states.”

Coronary Disease
Dehydroepiandrosterone and coronary atherosclerosis
Herrington DM. Dehydroepiandrosterone and coronary atherosclerosis. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1995 Dec 29;774:271-80.

Study: Researchers examined “Tissue culture, animal model, and epidemiologic studies.”

The researchers stated: (DHEA) may inhibit atherosclerosis through its potent antiproliferative effects. Data suggest that low plasma levels of DHEA may facilitate, and high levels may retard, the development of coronary atherosclerosis and coronary allograft vasculopathy.

Dehydroepiandrosterone inhibits human platelet aggregation in vitro and in vivo
Jesse RL, Loesser K, Eich DM, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone inhibits human platelet aggregation in vitro and in vivo. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1995 Dec 29;774:281-90.

Interperation: Researchers sought to measure the effects of DHEA’s cardioprotective actions.

The researchers noted: “Findings suggest that DHEA retards platelet aggregation in humans. Inhibition of platelet activity by DHEA may contribute to the putative antiatherogenic and cardioprotective effects of DHEA.”

Dehydroepiandrosterone treatment of midlife dysthymia
Schmidt PJ, Danaceau MA, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone treatment of midlife dysthymia. Bloch M, Biol Psychiatry 1999 Jun 15;45(12):1533-41.

Study: The researchers noted a “significant response was seen after 3 weeks of treatment on 90 mg per day. The symptoms that improved most significantly were anhedonia, loss of energy, lack of motivation, emotional “numbness,” sadness, inability to cope, and worry. This pilot study suggests that dehydroepiandrosterone is an effective treatment for midlife-onset dysthymia.”

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) increases production and release of Alzheimer’s amyloid precursor protein.
Danenboerg HD, Haring R, Fisher A, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) increases production and release of Alzheimer’s amyloid precursor protein. Life Sci 1996;59(19):1651-7.

Study: The researchers noted: DHEA significantly declines with advanced age. “We propose that the age-associated decline in DHEA levels may be related to the pathological APP metabolism observed in Alzheimer’s disease.”

DHEA administration increases rapid eye movement sleep and EEG power in the sigma frequency range
Friess E, Trachsel L, Guldner J, et al. DHEA administration increases rapid eye movement sleep and EEG power in the sigma frequency range. Am J Physiol 1995 Jan;268(1 Pt 1):E107-13.

Study: “Investigated was the effects of a single oral dose of DHEA (500 mg) on sleep stages, sleep stage-specific electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectra, and concurrent hormone secretion in 10 healthy young men. DHEA administration induced a significant increase in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, whereas all other sleep variables remained unchanged compared with the placebo condition. Because REM sleep has been implicated in memory storage, its augmentation in the present study suggests the potential clinical usefulness of DHEA in age-related dementia.”

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) treatment of depression
Wolkowitz OM, Reus VI, Roberts E, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) treatment of depression. Biol Psychiatry 1997 Feb 1;41(3):311-8

Study: Researchers looked at “six middle-aged and elderly patients with major depression,” and increased their DHEA levels to those “observed in younger healthy individuals.”

The researchers said: “Depression ratings, as well as aspects of memory performance significantly improved. These preliminary data suggest DHEA may have antidepressant and pro-memory effects and should encourage double-blind trials in depressed patients.”

Inflammatory Disease
van Vollenhoven RF, Morabito LM, Engleman EG, et al. Treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus with dehydroepiandrosterone: 50 patients treated up to 12 months. J Rheumatol 1998 Feb;25(2):285-9

Study: Researchers study whether long-term therapy (up to 1 year) with DHEA is beneficial in patients with mild to moderate systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

The researchers stated: “DHEA was well tolerated and appeared clinically beneficial, with the benefits sustained for at least one year in those patients who maintained therapy.”

Menopausal
Genazzani AD, Stomati M, Strucchi C, et al. Oral dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation modulates spontaneous and growth hormone-releasing hormone-induced growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 secretion in early and late postmenopausal women. Fertil Steril 2001 Aug;76(2):241-8.

Study: The researchers sought to see if DHEA effected lean and obese post-menopausal women differently. The results suggested that lean and obese women benefitted equally.

The researchers noted: “This suggests that DHEA is more than a more than a simple “diet supplement” or “anti-aging product”; rather it should be considered an effective hormonal replacement treatment.”

Abdominal Fat
Effect of DHEA on abdominal fat and insulin action in elderly women and men: a randomized controlled trial.

Villareal DT, Holloszy JO. Effect of DHEA on abdominal fat and insulin action in elderly women and men: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2004 Nov 10;292(18):2243-8.

“CONCLUSION: DHEA replacement could play a role in prevention and treatment of the metabolic syndrome associated with abdominal obesity.”

DHEA, Bone Mineral Density, Older Adults
Researchers writing in the medical journal The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, say that DHEA replacement therapy for one year improved hip Bone Mineral Density in older adults and spine Bone Mineral Density in older women.

DHEA What is It?
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.

Women With Higher Levels of Estrogen Have Prettier Faces

Researchers at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland announced that women who had higher amounts of estrogen in their urine were found to be more attractive than women who had lesser amounts. READ IT HERE

 

Hormone Replacement Therapy – Study Comments

Researchers writing in the Journal of the British Menopause Society say “Many women have been denied or have discontinued HRT because of the fear of risks, which may not have been put in perspective or fully understood.”

Davey DA. Hormone replacement therapy: time to move on? J Br Menopause Soc. 2006 Jun;12(2):75-80.

Hormone replacement therapy: time to move on?
The risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) need to be put in perspective. In the analysis of clinical trials, emphasis is often placed on relative risks, statistical significance and 95% confidence intervals, whereas, from a clinical perspective, more may be gained from a consideration of the absolute and attributable risks of therapy.

The Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences recommended that the frequency of adverse events be categorized as ‘rare’ if less than 1/1000 but more than 1/10,000, and as ‘very rare’ if less than 1/10,000. In the analyses of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), the attributable risks were ‘appreciable’ (i.e. more than 1/1000) only in women aged over 70 years, with the exception of the risks of venous thromboembolism and stroke. The women in the WHI trial do not represent the relatively younger, healthy, postmenopausal women most commonly prescribed HRT, who are probably at much lower risk.

Moreover, the WHI trial did not take into account the benefit of relief of menopausal symptoms, which is, for many women, paramount and outweighs the ‘rare’ long-term risks. Age may be a useful guide to risks and some simple guidelines for management, based on age, are suggested. Many women have been denied or have discontinued HRT because of the fear of risks, which may not have been put in perspective or fully understood. The care of postmenopausal women is not static, and sufficient has now been learned to enable each menopausal woman, with the help of her medical adviser, to come to a balanced and reasonable decision.

In the News

 
Walking off Postmenopausal decreases in bone mineral density, aerobic fitness, muscle strength, and balance. Researchers writing in the medical journal Physical Therapy say that “Menopause may induce a phase of rapid decreases in bone mineral density, aerobic fitness, muscle strength, and balance, especially in sedentary women. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects and feasibility of an exercise program of 1 or 2 bouts of walking and resistance training on lower-extremity muscle strength (the force-generating capacity of muscle), balance, and walking performance in women who recently went through menopause.”
Read more

 

 

From our last issue…
Men and Testosterone More Body Mass…Diminished Testosterone
Researchers writing in the medical journal Archives of Andrology say total testosterone and SHBG concentrations proportionally diminished with both the increase of BMI (body mass index) and insulin resistance index. Read more

 

 

Intimate Activity and Level of Satisfaction in Middle Aged and Older Women
Researchers writing in the medical journal Obstetrics & Gynecology looked at women aged 40-69 for their levels of intimate activity and satisfaction, see what they found.

Listen To Healing, Happiness & Hormones
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10-11AM Pacific Time KRLA – Los Angeles How To Listen To Show Live

PAST SHOWS NOW AVAILABLE ON DEMAND ON LINE! Now you can listen to these shows whenever you like from your computer! Go to the radio page

Get Seminar InformationYou’ve heard them on the radio, now hear them in person! Marc Darrow, M.D., J.D., and Gene Steiner PharmD of Healthy Advice present information on Age Management Medicine, bio-identical hormones, lifestyle and health and more.

Hormones, Oxidative Stress, Menopause

In the News…
Researchers writing in Clinica Chimica Acta, the International Journal of Clinical Chemistry and Applied Molecular Biology suggest that Hormone Replacement therapy may play a beneficial role in the protection against oxidative stress.

Clin Chim Acta. 2006 Jul;369(1):73-7. Epub 2006 Feb 10.
Unfer TC, Conterato GM, da Silva JC, Duarte MM, Emanuelli T. Influence of hormone replacement therapy on blood antioxidant enzymes in menopausal women. Clin Chim Acta. 2006 Jul;369(1):73-7. Epub 2006 Feb 10.

From the abstract:
BACKGROUND: Natural loss of estrogen occurring in menopausal process may contribute to various health problems many of them possibly related to oxidative stress. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most common treatment to attenuate menopausal disturbances. This study was aimed at evaluating the influence of HRT on the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; and glutathione peroxidase, GPx) and lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS) in menopausal women.

CONCLUSIONS: HRT antagonizes the decrease of SOD activity that occurs after menopause, suggesting that HRT may play a beneficial role in the protection against oxidative stress.

Related links
Estrogen Selected Research

More Estrogen Links
Breast Cancer and Estrogen Replacement Therapy
What Effects Does Estrogen Have On The Skin?
Estrogen and Sun Damaged Skin
Women With Higher Levels of Estrogen Have Prettier Faces

Hot Flashes and Insomnia

Researchers writing in the Archives of Internal Medicine say: “Severe hot flashes are strongly associated with chronic insomnia in midlife women. The presence of hot flashes should be systematically investigated in women with insomnia. Treating hot flashes could improve sleep quality and minimize the deleterious consequences of chronic insomnia.”

Ohayon MM. Severe hot flashes are associated with chronic insomnia. Arch Intern Med. 2006 Jun 26;166(12):1262-8

BACKGROUND: Because hot flashes can occur during the night, their presence has been frequently associated with insomnia in women with symptoms of menopause. However, many factors other than hot flashes or menopause can be responsible for insomnia, and several factors associated with insomnia in the general population are also commonly observed in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women who have hot flashes.

METHODS: A random sample of 3243 subjects (aged >/=18 years) representative of the California population was interviewed by telephone. Included were 982 women aged 35 to 65 years. Women were divided into 3 groups according to menopausal status: premenopause (57.2%), perimenopause (22.3%), and postmenopause (20.5%). Hot flashes were counted if they were present for at least 3 days per week during the last month and were classified as mild, moderate, or severe according to their effect on daily functioning.

Chronic insomnia was defined as global sleep dissatisfaction, difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, or nonrestorative sleep, for at least 6 months. Diagnoses of insomnia were assessed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, classification.

RESULTS: Prevalence of hot flashes was 12.5% in premenopause, 79.0% in perimenopause, and 39.3% in postmenopause. Prevalence of chronic insomnia was reported as 36.5% in premenopause, 56.6% in perimenopause, and 50.7% in postmenopause.

Prevalence of symptoms of chronic insomnia increased with the severity of hot flashes, reaching more than 80% in perimenopausal women and postmenopausal women who had severe hot flashes. In multivariate analyses, severe hot flashes were significantly associated with symptoms and a diagnosis of chronic insomnia. Poor health, chronic pain, and sleep apnea were other significant factors associated with chronic insomnia.

CONCLUSIONS: Severe hot flashes are strongly associated with chronic insomnia in midlife women. The presence of hot flashes should be systematically investigated in women with insomnia. Treating hot flashes could improve sleep quality and minimize the deleterious consequences of chronic insomnia.

Menopause and Peri-Menopause Blog

Question from Radio Show Caller
Caller: I entered menopause or peri-menopause just a few years ago, I found some things that worked for me, and now they are no longer working even though I am on bio-identical hormones. I started having the nights sweats, the fatigue, moodiness and things like that. I have tried several estrogens and several different things. So far, no luck, meaning I am experiencing those symptoms still, and I have occasional periods. What do I do?

Dr. Darrow: You need to get your hormone levels checked. If you have occasional periods then you are still peri-menopausal, which is the most difficult phase, because at that stage your ovaries are erratically putting out different amounts of hormones, it is very tough at that stage to really get someone on track.

Progesterone is probably the most important thing that you can have in your system because it is a relaxant, it modulates the amount of estrogen so you don’t get it too high, like those months that you are flaring with estrogen and probably moody and feeling a little bit out of whack and retaining fluids, etc.

The way I like people to take Progesterone is by pill just before they go to sleep, I give it to men and women. For women, it is the most relaxing of all the hormones, it also helps build bone. I don’t know if you had a bone densitometry taken recently but it is something that is very important, if you need one you can always call our clinic because that tells the tale right there if you have enough estrogen, testosterone and progesterone because those hormones build up the bone structure, it is most important to maintain the bones, because if the bones are demineralizing, there is a risk of fracture.

You need to have your hormone levels checked. You also need to have very adequate levels of testosterone, not the levels that a man has, but the upper levels that a strong young women has and if you are peri-menopausal, I am not sure how old you are.

Caller: I am 54

Dr. Darrow: Then your Testosterone level has probably dropped down to nothing, it does for most women, and that, in it of itself, once supplemented, can bring you back into alignment. It is also good for the libido and quality of life and the ability to accomplish things.

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