Anti-aging therapies through bio-identical hormonal balancing

Dr. Westin Childswww.restartmed.com

Suzanne Somers anti aging regimen- Growth hormone, thyroid hormone,

estradiol, progesterone, pregnenolone, DHEA, GABA, Cortisol, melatonin

- Notice the trend? ALL hormones! - She also uses: daily supplements/vitamins,

frequently detox’s, specialized diet and exercise routines

Anti-aging is not….Old anti-aging paradigm: - Plastic surgery (face lifts, tummy tucks, etc.)- Expensive laser resurfacing- Getting new joints with orthopedic surgery- Treating aches and pains with medications

Anti-aging is

“The specialty is founded on the application of advanced scientific and medical technologies for the early detection, prevention, treatment, and reversal of age-related dysfunction, disorders, and diseases”

My definitionAnti-aging is making lifestyle changes including diet, exercise and the supplementation of bio-identical hormones to natural physiologic levels to influence changes at the cellular level which correspond to improvement in both the phenotype and genotype of the individual.

Anti-aging regimen1.Bio-identical hormone replacement (to

physiologic levels)2.Exercise***3.Diet4.Targeted supplements5.Stress and sleep management

(reversal of chronic diseases with targeted medications may be necessary)

HormonesMost powerful molecules in biologyCritical to life - change your DNAControl metabolism of every cellDetermine gender differencesDetermine energy and moodOptimal levels are essential for health and quality of life

2 MAJOR problems...

All hormones decline with age, stress, toxins and illness!- 10% of people have subclinical

hypothyroidism - Every aging human = somatopause,

menopause/andropause- Stress causes early decline of DHEA and

adrenal function- Environment (xenoestrogens)

Doctors don’t get it“reference range endocrinology”- Normal ranges are NOT optimal

- Include 95% of tested ‘sick’ people- NOT diagnostic ranges

- Doctors assume that all ranges are diagnostic- Male free tesosterone: 35-155 5x- Female free testosterone: 0.0-2.2 Infinite- Free t4 (thyroid): 0.6-1.8 3x- AM serum cortisol: 5-25 5x

DHEA (major precursor)

Progesterone and Estrogen

Common view- Persistence of youthful levels of hormones

would cause more heart attacks and cancer- Loss of hormones is adaptive and helps us

live longer- Fits pharmaceutical agenda: take drugs for

symptoms caused by hormone loss

Against the common view- Aging is a natural self destruct program that kicks in

around age 25 in humans- Obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attacks,

autoimmune diseases and many cancers increase AFTER menopause/andropause

- Aging and loss of hormones are both natural and bad for you

- Studies of balanced hormone restoration show expected youthful benefits and improvements without proof of harm

Thyroid and cortisol deficiencies(fatigue, depression and pain)

- Thyroid sets metabolism, cortisol delivers fuel

- Thyroid determines metabolism in EVERY tissue

- Lack of either = slow metabolism- BOTH must be optimal for health and quality

of life- Doctors have irrational fear of supplementing

Hypothyroidism- Mental fog, poor concentration, depression- Fatigue, need for excessive sleep- Cold extremities, always feel cold- Aches and pains- Thinning, dry, coarse scalp hair- Weight gain- Constipation- Ankle swelling, puffy face

Diagnosing hypothyroidism1st - Symptoms… 2nd - Basal body temp... 97.8-98.23rd - Labs...

TSH Optimal levels 1-2 mU/l (reference range 0.5-4.5) Free T3 > 3.2 (upper ⅓ of reference range)Free T4 > 1.1 (upper ⅓ of reference range) Reverse T3, thyroglobulin antibodies, thyroid peroxidase

antibodies

Right way to fix it- Use of bio-identical T3/T4 hormonal therapy,

titration to relief of symptoms (NOT the TSH)- Iodine, selenium supplementation- Support adrenal function with supplements

or bio-identical cortisol if necessary- Vitamin C, salt, adaptogens

More than “sex hormones” Estradiol, progesterone, testosterone and DHEA are required for the function, growth and maintenance of ALL tissues in both sexes- Maintain brain function and health- Maintain immune system- Maintain connective tissue: skin, hair, bones, muscle- Improve insulin sensitivity: prevent diabetes, fatty liver- Reduce blood pressure- Prevent heart attacks

Normal progesterone dominance

Perimenopause

Menopause

Women killers and hormones- Cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, dementia and

breast cancer = RARE before menopause- First 3 = estradiol deficiency, breast cancer =

progesterone deficiency- Early removal of ovaries = increased risk of heart

disease, osteoporosis and dementia- Youthful hormone levels protect women from these

diseases

Coronary artery disease vs. age

Transdermal estradiol prevents heart attacks

Transdermal estradiol prevents heart attacks

Estrogen replacement preventsAlzheimer’s disease

n=5092 women followed over 5 years

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis- A hormone deficiency disease - the proper

treatment is hormone restoration- Estradiol prevents resorption of bone while

testosterone, DHEA and GH build new bone- Hormone restoration including vitamin D =

increases bone density better than bisphosphonates without side effects

Estradiol restoration- Protects against heart disease, dementia,

osteoporosis- Improves insulin sensitivity - prevents diabetes- Eliminates hot flashes, restores sleep- Restores cognitive function and mood- Maintains thickness, fullness of skin and hair- Maintains pelvic health, helps against incontinence and

bladder infections- Protects aginst colon cancer and macular degeneration

What about breast cancer?- Estradiol stimulates growth of female

organs, maintains female health and quality of life

- Promotes cancer and other disorders if not balanced with progesterone and androgens

Estrogen Dominance- Autoimmune

diseases- Anxiety- Moodiness- PMS- Bloating, fluid

retention- Fibrocystic breasts

- Heavy periods- Endometriosis- Breast cancer- Ovarian cancer- Uterine cancer- Gallstones

Progesterone balances estrogen- Balanced levels of estrogen/progesterone

prevent breast and endometrial cancer

- Progesterone decline = anxiety, depression, irritability, mood swings, insomnia, pain and inflammation (joint, low back, etc.), osteoporosis

Breast cancer rate vs ageLoss of progesterone = higher risk of breast cancer

Who needs progesterone?- Irregular menstrual cycles- No periods - amenorrhea- Heavy bleeding- Fibrocystic breast disease- Endometriosis/adenomyosis- EVERY woman in menopause

Provera is NOT = to progesteroneProvera- Causes birth defects- Depression- Insomnia, irritability- Fluid retention- Worsens lipid profile- Increases risk of heart attacks- Increases stimulation of

breasts- Causes breast cancer

Progesterone- Maintains pregnancy- Improves mood- Improves sleep- Diuretic- Improves cholesterol- No increase in heart attacks- reduces stimulation of

breasts- PREVENTS breast cancer

E3N-EPIC study55,000 women8 year f/u

E2 plus progesterone = no increased risk of breast cancer

Take aways- Bio-identical hormones

- Transdermal (through the skin)- Estradiol/estriol combination- Natural progesterone- Individualized dose titrated by you- NO harm when used correctly, with LOTS of benefit

Take aways- New anti-aging medicine

- Hormones (bio-identical hormones)- Diet- Exercise- Sleep and stress management- Targeted supplements

Questions?