HRT Update
A Dutch study of more than 200 women has shown that daily doses of soy do not improve postmenopausal symptoms in women over 60. Researchers at the University Medical Center in Utrecht, Netherlands, asked 202 Dutch women aged 60 and older to consume either 25 grams of soy protein or a non-soy milk powder daily for one year. Results, reported in the July 7 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, showed no effect on cholesterol levels, bone mineral density, or cognitive tests. Soy still may benefit younger women, however. Dr. Thomas Clarkson, a researcher at Wake Forest University who has studied the benefits of soy, said his studies suggest that soy isoflavones only improve a woman's health through synergy with circulating estradiol, a form of estrogen. Estradiol levels decrease during and after menopause, unless women use hormone replacement therapy (HRT). For information about biologically identical estradiol, visit www.collegepharmacy.com.
For Men Only
Prostate cancer deaths in Europe fell from 106 per 100,000 men in 1990 to 87 per 100,000 in 2000, while the U.S. prostate cancer death rate dropped from approximately 124 to 83 during the same decade. Physicians speculate that men are seeking medical help at an earlier stage of the disease. If you are a man over 45, symptoms that may indicate prostate cancer include difficulty passing urine, a weak urine flow, frequent urination (including several times during the night), a feeling that the bladder is not empty, dribbling of urine before and after urinating, and (rarely) blood in the urine. Diagnosis may involve a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test. Remember that these symptoms and even a high PSA level can be caused by other problems such as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) or prostatitis (inflamed prostate).
Healthy and Fit
A year-long study at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia has concluded that low-carbohydrate diets may yield short-term weight loss but are no more effective than other weight loss plans over the long haul. In the study of 132 obese adults, reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine, half ate less than 30 grams of carbohydrates per day and the other half followed a conventional diet plan that cut 500 calories per day and limited fat intake to 30% of calories. After six months, the low-carb group lost an average of 13 pounds, compared to 4 pounds for the conventional group. After a year, the low-carb group was down an average of only 11 pounds, compared to 8 pounds for the other group, whose members continued to lose weight. The difference was not statistically significant.
Quote of the Month
"A great flame follows a little spark."
- Dante
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Q&A
Q: Does pregnancy affect thyroid hormone levels?
A: A recent study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine recommends that women increase their intake of thyroid hormones by at least 30% at the earliest sign of pregnancy. Untreated hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) during pregnancy can lead to an increased risk of miscarriage, spontaneous abortion, fetal growth retardation, premature labor and delivery, congenital malformations, and possibly preeclampsia (a pregnancy disorder characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine). Symptoms that may point to a thyroid problem include fatigue (already a factor during pregnancy), rapid heartbeat, and weight loss.
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Remember Sex?
Human trials are underway for a drug that may improve the sex life of women, as well as men. Called PT-141, the drug works differently than Viagra and its relatives, according to Palatin Technologies, Inc., a New Jersey company spearheading the research. PT-141 is believed to act on receptors for a hormone called melanocortin, involved in the control of endocrine, autonomic, and central nervous system function. Drugs like Viagra increase blood flow to the penis and are not known to affect female sexual response. When PT-141 was given to female rats placed in a chamber with a male rat, the females displayed a marked increase in sexual behaviors. In male humans, the new drug (administered as a nasal spray) induced erections but did not affect sexual desire. Human trials are in progress with both men and women.
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