Guest guest Posted November 23, 2004 Report Share Posted November 23, 2004 " HSI - Jenny Thompson " <HSIResearch Around the Middle Mon, 22 Nov 2004 09:56:03 -0500 Around the Middle Health Sciences Institute e-Alert November 22, 2004 Dear Reader, Is it really the fountain of youth? That's how some refer to supplements of the hormone known as DHEA. And while the promise of a return to youth is a bit of a stretch, when older people boost their DHEA levels, benefits may include an increase of energy levels, improved memory, the reduction of the risk of heart attack and stroke, a strengthened immune system, and better control of type 2 diabetes symptoms. I've discussed some of these DHEA benefits in previous e-Alerts (most recently in " Not Pumping Up " 11/3/04). Now a new study demonstrates a very practical way that DHEA may help diabetics and those with pre-diabetic conditions. --------------------------- Metabolic message --------------------------- Metabolic syndrome (or MSX, for metabolic syndrome X) is a combination of symptoms that creates a high risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. The core symptoms include: * Excessive abdominal fat * Elevated blood pressure (130/85 or higher) * Low HDL cholesterol level (Less than 50 in women, less than 40 in men) * Elevated Triglyceride level * Elevated C-reactive protein level * Fasting glucose level that indicates insulin resistance/glucose intolerance The presence of just three or more of these symptoms is enough to diagnose MSX. As reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine examined the effect of DHEA supplementation on two MSX symptoms: excessive abdominal fat and insulin resistance. The Washington team recruited 56 subjects with low levels of DHEA and an average age of 71. The 28 men and 28 women were randomly assigned either 50 mg per day of DHEA, or a placebo for a period of six months. Changes in two types of fat were measured with magnetic resonance imaging: subcutaneous fat (fat that lies just under the skin), and visceral fat (fat that accumulates around muscles and vital organs). Among the men and women who received DHEA, both types of fat were significantly reduced compared to subjects taking placebo. The researchers also noted that oral glucose tolerance tests revealed a considerable improvement in insulin sensitivity among those receiving DHEA, compared to placebo. Based on these conclusive results, a larger study that will run a full year is now underway at Washington University. --------------------------- Doctor in the house --------------------------- No adverse side effects were reported during the Washington study. Nevertheless, DHEA is not for everyone. As I've mentioned in other e-Alerts, supplementary DHEA use should always be closely monitored by a medical professional. Why? Because the body can convert DHEA into both estrogen and testosterone, so doses of DHEA that are too high can lead to unpredictable imbalances in sex hormone profiles. In some cases, this can increase the risk of prostate cancer for men, and among women may lead to a deepened voice, excessive hair growth, and other androgenic (masculinizing) effects. Levels of DHEA are measured with a simple saliva test, which can also be used to monitor the effects of DHEA supplementation on an ongoing basis. HSI panelist Martin Milner, N.D., recommends that those who take DHEA should have their salivary hormone levels checked at least once every six months. If you and your doctor decide that DHEA is not a good fit for you, there's one very simple way to address abdominal fat: daily exercise. Subcutaneous fat and visceral fat can both be reduced by exercising regularly. A reduced intake of saturated fats may also help remove visceral fat. --------------------------- Taming the wild insulin --------------------------- Exercise can help address insulin resistance too, but good dietary choices provide the real key to stabilizing insulin. In the e-Alert " X Marks the Spot " (4/15/04), I told you about a study reported in the journal Diabetes Care. Researchers found that subjects with a high intake of total dietary fiber, fruit fiber and whole grains had a lower risk of developing insulin resistance. Are you thinking: déjà vu? You might be if you saw the e-alert " Staff of Life " (11/15/04), in which I told you about research that found white bread to be the food most strongly related to the development of diabetes, and whole grain products to be associated with less weight gain. What goes around the middle, comes around the middle. ************************************************************** ....and another thing I've been ranting back at my car radio again. In a report on National Public Radio last week, I heard a spokesman for the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) state his opinion that supplement manufacturers should be forced to reveal every incidence of adverse effects reported by consumers. Would such a plan really serve the public, or would it just increase bureaucracy without actually making the public any safer? I'll go with the latter on that one. I'm allergic to broccoli. I have a terrible reaction whenever I eat even a little. But when I do, would it make sense for the company that processed the broccoli to file a report with the FDA? I don't think so. And why should food supplements be held to a higher standard than prescription drugs? Pharmaceutical executives aren't required to report individual adverse reactions to their products. CSPI does some good work. For instance, it promotes education about the dangers of trans fatty acids and antibiotic resistance. But CSPI advocates are off base about the reporting of all adverse reactions. They still seem to believe that the public has a childlike need to be protected from itself by a " parental " FDA. To Your Good Health, Jenny Thompson Health Sciences Institute Sources: " Effect of DHEA on Abdominal Fat and Insulin Action in Elderly Women and Men " Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 292, No. 18, 11/10/04, jama.ama-assn " Hormone's Effect on the Elderly " The Washington Post, 11/15/04, washingtonpost.com " FDA Meets About Dietary Supplements " Joanne Silberner, Morning Edition, National Public Radio, 11/15/04, npr.org Copyright ©1997-2004 by www.hsibaltimore.com, L.L.C. The e-Alert may not be posted on commercial sites without written permission. 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