Men’s Health
…Prostate Health… Liver Health…Cardiac Health.. Erectile Dysfunction…
These are scary topics with vital importance to your health. What do all of these have in common? They can be linked to aging, which can cause changes in your natural hormone balance.
In the movies, John Wayne and James Bond don’t worry about their health. They get shot, beaten and smashed — then get up and finish off the bad guys. Reality, however, is quite different.
John Wayne developed heart disease and had a cancerous lung removed. Ian Fleming, who created James Bond, died from complications of a chest cold because he bucked his doctor’s orders and played golf instead.
Look at any health statistics and the real story is the same: men live much shorter lives than women and have higher risks for all 15 leading causes of death. Despite these statistics, most American men think their health is “excellent” and they’re dying to prove it. Although their health risks are largely preventable, men’s infrequent health care combined with behavior that’s better left to Hollywood stuntmen shortens their lives by seven years.
Male hormones decline gradually. Testosterone (from the testis), human growth hormone (from the pituitary), and DHEA and androstenedione (from the adrenal gland) all begin to drop. For many men, this does not occur until their 60s or 70s but in others this decrease occurs much earlier. In addition, there are proteins in the blood which bind testosterone making it inactive. These are called sex hormone binding proteins or globulins. Their levels can rise in response to many conditions including medical disorders, stress and exposure to other hormones including phyto-estrogens (estrogens derived from plant sources such as soy) and other environmental estrogen-like compounds (pesticides, hormones used in agri-business to produce fatter animals, etc.) As an example, there is data suggesting that men on low fat or vegetarian diets have lower testosterone levels. The overall effect of increasing sex hormone binding proteins means there is less bio-available testosterone. Less bio-available testosterone can mean:
Erectile dysfunction (problems with erections)
Decreased libido (low sex drive)
Mood disturbances, including depression, irritability and feeling tired
Loss of muscle size and strength
Osteoporosis (bone thinning)
Increased body fat
Difficulty with concentration and memory loss
Sleep difficulties
What is Testosterone, The Male Sex Hormone?
Testosterone is the hormone which regulates the structure of all body proteins and insures the development and integrity of the genitals (penis and testicles) in males. A deficiency causes only modest changes initially such as an increase in weight (beer belly), progressive aging of the face, muscular weakening and weakening of bone tissue or osteoporosis. Testosterone is synthesized from cholesterol at approximately 6 mg/day (normal range 5-15 mg/day depending on age) and metabolized by the liver and excreted in the urine. Testosterone can be bio-converted into two other steroids at target tissues throughout the body. This conversion of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol (E2) regulates testosterone activity.
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)- binds more readily to androgen receptors than testosterone and is four times more potent than testosterone as an anabolic agent (to increase muscle mass). Levels of testosterone in young men are quite high, while levels of DHT are low. The enzyme responsible for the conversion of testosterone to DHT, 5-alpha reductase, becomes more active with age. Thus as men age, the levels of testosterone decrease while the levels of DHT increase.
Estradiol - (one of three estrogens acting on both females and males {E1, Estrone; E2, estradiol; E3, Estriol}) is the primary hormone that can cause male aggression, breast enlargement and loss of sexual drive. The pituitary hormone responsible for stimulating testosterone is LH (luteinizing hormone). Too much estradiol decreases the level of LH and, therefore, decreases the level of testosterone. As men age, the balance between testosterone and estradiol is tilted in favor of estradiol production. It is surprising to learn that the average 60-year-old male has more circulating estrogen in his bloodstream than the average 60-year-old female. Although estrogen has numerous beneficial effects for menopausal women, excess amounts in "andropausal" men appear to be catastrophic.
Lowered testosterone secretion causes low functioning of many body organs resulting in the eventual failing of memory, sexual drive and resulting irritability associated with general fatigue and higher estrogen levels in men. The development of clogged arteries, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, increase in abdominal fat, atrophy of the skin, high blood pressure and increased cholesterol are aging associated changes of males that may be reversible with testosterone supplementation. This is a simple endocrine problem which is no different than thyroid disease or diabetes, and can be treated.
The conversion of testosterone to estradiol takes place under the influence of the enzyme aromatase. Testosterone and androstenedione are both converted to estradiol by the enzyme aromatase, while DHT is not. Some endocrinologists and other physicians believe that many of the prostate difficulties experienced by men as they age are the result of imbalances between levels of estradiol and DHT. When a complete hormone panel is done, including free and total testosterone, DHT, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), estradiol, progesterone and a PSA test for prostate, a rational treatment plan can be devised.
Currently there are several aromatase inhibitors on the market for prescription use as treatments for breast cancer. These aromatase inhibitors will block the conversion of testosterone to estrogen in men as well. There is also a natural aromatase inhibitor called chrysin. It can be found alone and in combination with other supplements used to improve prostate health, such as saw palmetto. The main action of saw palmetto is to block the 5-alpha reductase from turning testosterone into DHT. There is some evidence that saw palmetto might also serve as an aromatase inhibitor.
Testosterone is beneficial in many ways. It enhances libido, decreases heart disease risk, increases lean body mass and prevents osteoporosis. Testosterone also lowers total cholesterol and LDL, and decreases insulin resistance.
Natural testosterone can be compounded in appropriate physiologic doses with a prescription from your doctor. There are also possibilities of the addition of chrysin, saw palmetto, zinc, magnesium and diindolyl methane to improve men’s health. Your doctor can Contact Mixtures and ask our compounding specialists at Mixtures Pharmacy & Compounding Center for prescribing information.
