The Testosterone Story in Men
By
now every body knows the important role that testosterone
plays in women, from increase in libido to improvement of
bone density and muscle strength but strangely enough less
emphasis is put on this important hormone in men.
New
studies show that by age 80, a man can lose as much as 75%
of his capacity to produce testosterone. To make matters
worse, the amount of the sex-binding
globulin,
a component of the blood that neutralizes the efficacy of
testosterone, also increases with age.
The
result: less production, more neutralization of testosterone
leads to greatly diminished positive action.
Free
testosterone
not only increases bone density also in men, as it does in
women, most importantly and contrary to what was previously
thought, it also improves cardiac status and the strength of
the heart. Adequate testosterone therapy improves erectile
dysfunctions and increase libido.
Researchers
have observed these clinical benefits through studies in
which they administered testosterone by means of a scrotal
patch.
Reference:
Snyder
PJ, Peachey H, Annoush P,
Berlin
J, Loh L, Holmes
JH, et. al. Effect of testosterone treatment on bone mineral
density in men over 65 years of age. J Clin Endocrinol Metab
1999;84(6):1966-1972
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Intestinal
Permeability and Low Secretory IgA
Dysfunction
of intestinal permeability is one of the major sources of
immune dysregulation and other diseases, e.g., arthritis,
malaise, headaches and, of course, intestinal symptoms,
e.g., abdominal pains, flatulence, bloating and
mal-digestion (burping, sensation of fullness and other
dyspeptic phenomena). One
of the things we find most frequently in our patients on the
Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis (CDSA) done by Great
Smokies Laboratory is low secretory IgA (S-IgA).
Deficit
of this family of antibodies is generally accompanied by the
proliferation of unwanted intestinal bacteria (Dysbiosis)
and severe food allergies. (Leaky gut syndrome)
In
many of these cases patients prove to be allergic to most of
the foods tested making elimination rotation a real task of
courage and endurance.
This
is last condition is the result of intestinal inflammation
brought about mostly by the dysbiosis that leads to the
leaky gut syndrome. In this condition the intestine is no
longer a barrier
To
toxins and allows undigested foods to enter the blood stream
and cause immunological havoc. (For more detail, see Chapter
8 of “The
Ageless Woman”).
In “The
Ageless Woman”, you will find abundant clinical
evidence to the fact that our diets and lifestyle have made
this into a major 21st century medical problem.
MALABSORPTION
Low
S-IgA not only causes immunological dysfunctions, but serious
malabsorption
a
perfectly damaging vicious cycle. In these cases, oral
vitamins are poorly absorbed, as are vital components of
foods. Oral vitamins are often counterproductive because
they end up feeding the many bacteria that are in the
intestinal lumen.
Parenteral
intervention, either by intramuscular injections or
intravenous infusions of antioxidants and amino acids, is
the only way to resolve this malabsorption syndrome.
At
the same time one needs to take steps to promote the healing
of the intestine using the best combination of probiotics
available and the home made condiment described in the bowel
scrubbing flyer.
For
more information on this and many other subjects, read “The
Ageless Woman”
by Serafina Corsello, M.D.
Reference:
(GS
CONNECTION June 24, 1998 - Vol.1, No.2) Smeculol E, Pedreira
S, Niveloni S, Vazquez H, Maurino E, Bai JC, Meddings JB.
Permeability tests detect celiac disease (CD) in first
degree relatives: preliminary results (Digestive Diseases
Week abstract #G1700). Gastroenterology 1998; 114(4;Part
2):A371
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Fasting Blood Sugar vs. Glucose Tolerance Test
To
Diagnose Mild Metabolic Abnormalities
Beginning
on page 56 of my book, “The
Ageless Woman”,
I give
ample explanation as to why the fasting blood sugar is not a
good test to establish possible mild to moderate sugar
imbalance problems.
At
our Centers we have been able to suspect and then diagnose
early stages diabetes or borderline cases by looking at
patient’s distribution of body fat (mostly around the
abdomen) and elevated tryglicerides and cholesterol.
Cardiovascular
problems, hypertension, fluctuating blood pressures,
hyperlipedemia (elevated cholesterol and/or triglycerides) and
the apple-shaped body type, should alert the physician to
order a 5-hour glucose tolerance test with the insulin
curve.
In
these patients, the fasting blood sugar is most often
perfectly normal, and in fact, in some cases low.
Dr.
Makoto Tominaga and colleagues at Yamagata University School
of Medicine, Japan, demonstrated that the fasting blood sugar
is not, indeed, a good test to evaluate mild dysglycemia and
that one should at least do a 2-hour post- challenge glucose
tolerance test. My rationale for doing the 5-hour glucose
tolerance test is that I consider the Glucola such a toxic
drink, that if one needs to use it, one should get the most
complete blood response possible. In my opinion, to use the
Glucola and draw just one blood sample is inconsiderate to the
physiological price the patient pays for it.
Glucola
can trigger long-term dysglycemic reactions and serious
malaise. As I have described in the book, we use an infusion
of antioxidants and magnesium immediately after the glucose
tolerance test, to terminate the negative effect of the drink
and by expediting the burning of the sugar in the glucola.
This has avoided post-testing fainting episodes and long-term
feelings of malaise in our patients. I arrived at this
conclusion twenty years ago, when a patient of mine, whom I
sent for a glucose tolerance test, became subsequently ill
with protracted fainting episodes, malaise, irritability and
weakness that lasted over a week. Understanding the physiology
of glucose metabolism led me to develop this remediation
technique: the post-glucose tolerance test magnesium
antioxidant drip.
Ask
your doctor to read my book and take advantage of my
longstanding clinical experience in glucose management.
Reference:
Tominaga
M. Eguchi H, Manaka H, Igarashi K, Kato T, Sekikawa A.
Impaired glucose tolerances is a risk factor for
cardiovascular disease, but not fasting glucose: theFunagata
Diabetes Study. Diabetes Care 1999;22(6):920-24.
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Stress
Impairs the Memory
In
the Archives of General Psychiatry of 1999;56:527-533, the
authors demonstrated how the high levels of cortisol produced
during chronic stress impairs memory. Over the years, I so
often heard many of my very young patients complain they
thought they were developing Alzheimer’s. In all instances
they were suffering from high level of stress. The
complex chemistry of stress has a negative effect on the
neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers of our brain
functions. Protracted stress can lead to permanent
physiological impairment and ultimately brain damage. I have
seen this over and over again in my long clinical experience.
Stress alone will not produce Alzheimer’s, but in a
predisposed individual with poor nutrient intake and toxic
metal load, protracted stress is a major component for
senile dementia and Alzheimer’s.
So,
shape up and keep learning relaxation techniques. In my book, “The
Ageless Woman”,
I give some tools and methods to deal with stress. Do them and
save your brain.
Reference:
Newcomer
JW, Selke G,
Melson
AK
, Hershey T, Craft S,
Richard K, Alderson AL. Decreased memory performance in
healthy humans induced by stress-level cortisol treatment.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1999;56:527-533
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Phytonutrients:
Safer Estrogens
Cruciferous vegetables (cauliflower, Brussels sprouts,
broccoli, artichoke) are all rich in diindolylmethane (DIM), a
phytochemical that supports the hormonal system of both men
and women.
Phytonutrients
promote the metabolism of estrogen, eliminating most of the
“bad” estrogen and testosterone. Foods rich in DIM work by
promoting the shift in estrogen metabolism towards
2-hydroxyestrogen and 2-methoxyestrogens. These two
metabolites of estrogen are cancer protective and also
function as antioxidants.
Conversely,
the “bad” estrogens - xenoestrogens
- from petrochemical and pesticide sources, produce damage
to our DNA and promote cancer, especially of breast and
endometrial tissues in women and of the prostate gland in men.
High
consumption of cruciferous vegetables (always
clean, organic!)
is a natural antidote.
Recent
studies have demonstrated that healthy estrogen metabolism is
also important for general health and cancer prevention in
men. Foods containing DIM can slow the progression of prostate
disease and atherosclerosis. This is particularly important
when one needs to supplement male and female patients with
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), a superb anti-aging hormone
which, however, can be converted into excessive amounts of
estrogen. Combining DHEA with a diet high in cruciferous
vegetables will make sure we derive all the benefits from DHEA
without running the risk of an inappropriate estrogen
overload.
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