HealthBeat News

Category: Hormones

  • Do Vitamins Really Make Any Difference?

    Lots of conventional (allopathic) docs, and certainly Big Pharma and the Mighty FDA will tell you that there is no need for what we call optimal dose multiple vitamins – indeed they’ll tell you that vitamin supplements are "useless", "dangerous", "not necessary when you can get all the vitamins you need from your diet", and "a waste of money" that will "just give you expensive urine!"

    That’s OK – we know we’ll never convince them, since their minds are made up – there is no way we’ll confuse them with mere scientific fact… But every now and again we get an unsolicited note or letter from someone who has discovered the worth of optimal dose vitamins and wants to share their happiness and success with us.

     

    We thought we would share this woman’s happiness with you too…

    Dear Dr. Myatt:

    Just two years ago, (age 57), I was running, tripped over my dog, and smashed my collar bone.  For the first three months the collar bone did nothing toward healing.  After another month, I had a surgery to immobilize the bone.  Another month, and still no real progress toward healing, and the screws and plate had worked loose. When the doctor showed me the x-rays, I suggested in exasperation that maybe twist ties would work better than plates and screws.  He said he was thinking along those same lines, and would use sutures to keep the bone in place. During this time I did research on bone health and nutrition, and ordered every vitamin and mineral suggested for bone health.  The vitamins and minerals* came in the week after my second surgery.  There were many variables here, including bone graft plugs for the old screw holes, the nutritional supplements, more effort to stay immobile for a week or two after the surgery, and the sutures holding the bone ends in place.  But within the next few weeks, we could actually see healing taking place, and in another few months, the bone was set and stable, and I was released.  In a few months, I was at the dentist, and the hygienist persuaded me to take some dental x-rays just to gauge the (natural) bone loss.  Rather than losing bone, as expected, the bone had had actually built up around my teeth from the last x-ray a year or two earlier.  Then I noticed two photographs.  The first was taken just a few weeks after my accident, and I had been dismayed that my previously pearly whites were looking almost translucent, giving a beigy-gray appearance to my teeth.  The one taken more recently showed that my teeth had returned to a whiter color.  The teeth told me that the difference was actually related to nutritional supplementation rather than to the exercise/immobility factors or the surgical repair or graft factors.

    I recently tripped over a loose rug on a stair, and fell, severely bruising my arm and skinning my knee.  It was very painful, but there was no hint of a bone fracture.

    *The vitamins and minerals were calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, phosphorus, strontium citrate, boron, vitamin K, zinc, copper, vitamin C, and a regular multi-vitamin. I was also eating a balanced diet and using topical natural progesterone cream.

    I was not exercising very much because of the severity of the break.

    I thought you might appreciate the anecdotal information.  While not a controlled scientific study, it could support your work on nutrition and other alternative treatments for bone loss – or gain!

    Anne M

    Yup, we here at the Wellness Club know only too well that without the basic raw materials, the body cannot repair itself. Like baking a cake, if you are short just one ingredient it won’t come out right!

    So, here is what Dr. Myatt had to say to Anne:

    Hi Anne:

    Thanks for the great report!

    Say, you might be working too hard on your bone-building protocol.

    My Maxi Multi’s have the full daily dose of calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, boron, vitamin K, zinc, copper, vitamin C, and the rest of a good multiple vitamin-mineral all in one convenient formula. Check out the doses of bone-building nutrients; they are "right up there" with what you are probably taking as a bunch of separate things.

    Maxi Multi’s plus strontium makes an excellent foundation for a bone-restorative program.

    That extra progesterone is a good idea, too, especially if you have not had your hormones tested in order to make a more precise determination of natural hormone needs.

    Here’s the link to Maxi Multis: http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/maximulti.htm

    Again, congrats on your health success and thanks for the testimonial for natural remedies!

    In Health,
    Dr. Myatt

  • Which Test Is Better For Hormones – Urine Or Saliva?

    Many of you know already that one of Dr. Myatt’s areas of specialty is endocrine health and function: hormones and bio-identical hormone replacement. The human endocrine system is an exquisitely complicated and elegant chemical equivalent to the human nervous system – hormones are the chemical messengers for our bodily functions. Indeed, without healthy hormones, even the nervous system cannot function correctly!

    While at first glance hormone balance looks like a fairly simple task, it truth it is not – there are too many things that are inter-dependant, and the do-it-yourself approach to correcting and maintaining hormone balance can be like walking blindfolded through a minefield.

    We offer hormone testing, and we also offer a very special service where Dr. Myatt will provide an analysis and interpretation of the results of that testing. For this service, Dr. Myatt spends up to an hour (and sometimes more!) consulting with top experts at the testing lab and then provides a written interpretation, report, and recommendations. This allows those who wish to attempt to manage their own hormone health to do so with the benefit of as much knowledge and understanding as possible – to keep them from stepping on any of those "hormonal land-mines" that await the unwary.

    Another question we often hear is which is better – blood, saliva, or urine testing for hormone levels?

    Will recently wrote to ask:

    Dr. Myatt

    Why do you recommend urine over saliva for male hormone test?  Dr. John Lee recommends saliva but nothing said about urine. I am 44 and am do bikram yoga 5 times a week eat mostly raw etc. and want to establish a "baseline" marker today and maintain using the bioidentical hormone therapy mode (I think). LEF.ORG has a list of markers that they recommend and yours are somewhat different.  Please advise!  Thanks in advance for your time.

    Thank you
    Will

    It is clear that Will is trying to do things right with his health, and he is correct to be wary of the conflicting information that can be found on the internet. One advantage that we have here at the Wellness Club is that Dr. Myatt’s knowledge is cutting-edge and very up-to-date.

    Here is Dr. Myatt’s response to Will:

    Hi Will:

    Sex hormones are released in "bursts" throughout a 24-hour period. Obviously, a blood test will be the least accurate. Saliva is next best for a baseline, but hormones are not always consistently concentrated in saliva in a way the is truly representative of the 24-hour average. Urine is the most accurate, because it factors in the "bursts" and tells us the true 24-hour average.

    The urine test was not available back when Dr. Lee started making recommendations about testing. I have used all three tests over the years and believe solidly in the value of the 24-hour urine.

    The Comp Plus urine test also gives much more information than just the sex hormones because it tells us "intermediates" (as one thing is converted to another), plus HGH, adrenal hormones and ratios of sex hormones that are known to be markers (preventive) for hormone-related cancers. This information gives a much more complete picture than just the sex hormones alone.

    I recommend you spend the extra dollars and get the "state-of-the-art" 24 hour urine test. That way, you’ll have an excellent baseline to refer back to.

    In Health,
    Dr. Myatt

    P.S. Here’s the link to my medical test page so you can read more about these tests. I still offer saliva hormone testing but feel it if far inferior to urine. http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/medicaltests.htm#CompPlus

  • The Ugly Truth About "Bone-Building" Drugs for Osteoporosis

    The Ugly Truth About "Bone-Building" Drugs for Osteoporosis

    (And The Safe, Natural, Effective Alternative)

    By Dr. Dana Myatt

    Osteoporosis means "porous bone," a bone-thinning disease that affects some 25 million American women. It is called a "silent" disease because it comes on with few or no symptoms. Often, a fall resulting in a fracture is the first evidence of weakened bones. Other symptoms and signs of osteoporosis include a decrease in height, spontaneous hip or vertebrae fractures, and back pain. (Note: most back pain is NOT caused by osteoporosis, so don’t get hypochodriacal on me!)

    In elderly women, death resulting from complications of hip fracture is far more common than death from breast cancer, yet few people realize the potential seriousness of this condition. Although osteoporosis is more common in post-menopausal women, it also occurs in younger women, in men, and in all age groups. Caucasian and Asian women are at greatest risk because their bones tend to be less dense to begin with.

    OK, you get the picture. Osteoporosis is clearly a real health problem for many Americans. So it seems reasonable to take a medication that can make bones thicker if you’ve been told that you have osteopenia or osteoporosis, right? Please don’t go there until you consider these facts.

    The Drug Is A Success – The Bone Died. ("To Save The Village We Had To Burn It Down")

    The popular drugs prescribed for osteoporosis — alendronate (Fosamax, Fosamax Plus D), etidronate (Didronel), ibandronate (Boniva), pamidronate (Aredia), risedronate (Actonel, Actonel W/Calcium), tiludronate (Skelid), and zoledronic acid (Reclast, Zometa) — are all in a class of drugs called "bisphosphinates." (Abbreviated as "BP’s"). Although they are marketed as "bone-building" drugs, the real truth is quite a bit more ominous. These drugs work by killing a type of bone cell called osteoclasts. You read that right — the drug works by killing normal bone cells.

    But Wait! There’s More! ("Other Than That, Mrs. Lincoln, How Was The Play?")

    In addition to this insane "mechanism of action" (killing normal bone cells), the potential side-effects range from a mere nuisance to deadly serious.

    Stomach upset, inflammation and erosions of the esophagus are a common side-effect of the oral forms of these drugs. But not to worry that this might be a sign that the drug isn’t healthy for your body. Your doctor will simply tell you to "remain seated upright for 30 to 60 minutes after taking the medication." Wasn’t that easy? Problem solved.

    Bisphosphonates given by injection bypass the stomach troubles but have their own problems, including "flu-like symptoms after the first infusion." Manufacturers claim that this only happens the first time, but a quick search of online bulletin boards of people who have had this reaction tells a different story. Many people report severe flu-like symptoms and bone pain that was aggravated by each subsequent dose.

    One study found in increase in "serious atrial fibrillation" among zoledronic acid (Reclast, Zometa) users, but the FDA dismissed this as "not significant." Since all these drugs are in the same class, however, the finding raises concern about this atrial fib connection and ALL bisphosphonate drugs.

    [Nurse Mark Note: Atrial Fibrillation can quickly develop into a heart attack]

    Last and not least, bispohsphonate drugs (ALL of them) are associated with a osteonecrosis of the jaw. In plain English, this means death of the jaw bone. The problem occurs more often with IV BP’s but is also seen in oral BP use. As one medical article stated, "This complication can have a significant impact on the quality of life for those patients with advanced stages of necrosis." Uh, you mean because the dead part of the jawbone will have to be removed and possibly bone-grafted? With resultant facial deformity (not to mention pain and suffering)? Yeah, that might ruin your week… or month… or life…

    Is Bone Death Better Than Osteoporosis? (Is That Really A Serious Question?)

    Obviously, I’m not a fan of bisphosphonate drugs. The class of bone cells that they destroy — the osteoclasts — help to "remodel" bone. This means that bone is supposed to be a living, growing, constantly changing tissue. Bisphosphonates change all that.

    On the other hand, a life-threatening fracture from osteoporosis is no picnic, either. So what do I recommend for osteoporosis prevention and reversal? Nature’s way, of course!

    Rebuilding Bone The Natural Way

    It has long been known that declining sex hormones are associated with decreased bone mineralization. It is also known that un-natural hormone replacement, as practiced in conventional medicine, is a cause of breast and other hormone-related cancers (and increased risk of stroke, heart disease, blood clots and dementia).
    The "middle ground" on hormone replacement therapy is to use natural (bio-identical) hormone replacement therapy as practiced by holistic medical practitioners. Following hormone testing (urine testing is better than saliva or blood tests), a custom formula using doses and forms as found in nature will be prescribed.

    Normal bone formation requires the right "mix" of nutrients. Vitamin D is necessary for proper bone mineralization, and the latest medical research shows that we are getting far less than we really need. [NOTE: Maxi Multi’s have just been re-formulated to include 800IU instead of the previous 400IU per daily dose]. Folate, vitamin B6, B12 and vitamin K should also be in your daily "mix" and are found in optimal amounts in Maxi Multi’s.

    Exercise, especially the kind that puts some stress on bones such as walking, help "tell" the bones to take up more minerals.

    And of course, the minerals that build bone must be present. This usually requires mineral supplementation with calcium, magnesium, boron, manganese, zinc, copper and the "forgotten mineral," strontium.

    Strontium, the "Secret Sauce" for Strong Bones

    Strontium, a naturally-occurring mineral in the same class as calcium and magnesium, has been shown to prevent bone loss AND increase bone density even in already-established cases of osteoporosis. This, plus strontium (NOT the radioactive kind!) has little if any negative side effects. Read more about Strontium: The Missing Mineral for Osteoporosis Prevention and Reversal in this previous edition of HealthBeat.

    The Short Course On Strong Bones And Bone Remineralization

    Osteoporosis is not caused by a bisphosphonate deficiency! Given the potentially devastating side-effects of this class of drugs, doing it "nature’s way" should be a first choice for most people with osteoporosis (or those interested in prevention).

    Exercise, sex hormone balance and obtaining all necessary bone nutrients including strontium will prevent and reverse most cases of osteoporosis without causing harm in the process.

    References:

    1.) Osteoporosis: Part I. Evaluation and Assessment. American Family Physician, March 1, 2001.
    2.) Side effects courtesy of Merk’s Fosamax website: http://www.fosamax.com/alendronate_sodium/fosamax/consumer/side_effects/index.jsp
    3.) Alendronate and atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2007 May 3;
    356(18):1895-6
    4.) Once-yearly zoledronic acid for treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.  N Engl J Med. 2007 May 3;356(18):1809-22
    5.) Osteonecrosis and bisphosphonates in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am. 2007 May;19(2):199-206.
    6.) Biophosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws. Dent Clin North Am. 2008 Jan;52(1):111-28.
    7.) Bisphosphonate Use and the Risk of Adverse Jaw Outcomes: A medical claims study of 714,217 people. J Am Dent Assoc. 2008 Jan;139(1):23-30.
    8.) Osteonecrosis of the jaws secondary to bisphosphonate therapy: a case series. J Contemp Dent Pract. 2008 Jan 1;9(1):63-9.
    9.) Bisphosphonate osteonecrosis of the jaws; an increasing problem for the dental practitioner. Br Dent J. 2007 Dec 8;203(11):641-4.
    10.) Bisphosphonates and bisphosphonate induced osteonecrosis. Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am. 2007 Nov;19(4):487-98, v-vi.
    11.) The current state of postmenopausal hormone therapy: update for neurologists and epileptologists. Epilepsy Curr. 2007 Sep-Oct;7(5):119-22.
    12.) Strontium Ranelate Reduces the Risk of Nonvertebral Fractures in Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis: Treatment of Peripheral Osteoporosis (TROPOS) Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 May; 90(5):2816-22. Epub 2005 Feb 22.
    13.) Picking a bone with contemporary osteoporosis management: Nutrient strategies to enhance skeletal integrity. Clinical Nutrition (Epub ahead of print, 2006 October 12).
    14.) The effects of strontium ranelate on the risk of vertebral fracture in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis.” New England Journal of Medicine 350 (2004):459 – 68.
    15.) Strontium ranelate reduces the risk of nonvertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: Treatment of Peripheral Osteoporosis (TROPOS) study. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 90 (2005):2816 – 22.
    16.) Strontium in Finnish foods. International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research 52 (1982): 342 – 50.
    17.) Gaby AR. Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1994, 85–92 [review].
    18.) Strontium ranelate: a dual mode of action rebalancing bone turnover in favour of bone formation. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2006 Jun;18 Suppl 1:S11-5.

  • Fatigue, Poor Sleep, and Low Thyroid – A Connection?

    Gary recently wrote us to ask about whether low thyroid function could be causing his low energy and sleep problems and to describe his self-help protocol to us. Of course, as ever, we just cannot make specific recommendations for someone who is not working with Dr. Myatt as a patient, but there is plenty of good general information available on our website nonetheless.

    Here is Dr. Myatt’s reply to Gary:

    Hi Gary,

    If you have low thyroid function, then you really should get your iodine levels tested. Even if you are on thyroid hormone — in fact, especially if you are on thyroid hormones — there’s a 99.9% chance that you are iodine deficient. And don’t expect your conventional doctor to order this test. We don’t “do” iodine testing and replacement in conventional medicine! Taking iodine if you are found to be low could literally change your life. Here’s the scoop: http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/Iodine.htm

    Of course, a deficiency of any required nutrient (vitamins, minerals, trace minerals) can cause low energy and disturbed sleep. Please make sure that you are taking a good multiple vitamin / mineral formula with optimal doses of nutrients. Here is what “optimal” looks like: http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/supplements.htm (scroll to the vitamin chart on the bottom of the page for optimal dose ranges).

    High carb diets are a common cause of exhaustion and insomnia. A simple diet change can often “cure” said problems. http://healthbeatnews.com/news/archives/61

    Of course, if your “do-it-yourself” program isn’t helping, I am available for telephone consultations. http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/consultations.htm
    My staff and I have helped a lot of people, many in very dire circumstances, and we’ve never even seen most of them “in the flesh”!

    Hope this helps! Let me know how it goes for you.

    In Health,
    Dr. Myatt  

  • "Shorts" from This Month’s Conventional Medicine News

    I get a summary of major world medical "breakthroughs" and reports of medical study findings on a daily basis. Here are recent "findings" from conventional medical journals that may be of interest or humor to you.

    Aren’t you glad I read all of these medical reports so you don’t have to?!

    1.) "Keeping Active, Not Smoking Can Reduce but Not Abolish CV Risks of Obesity."

    Dr. Myatt’s comment: Yes, good health habits are cumulative. Still, nothing completely eliminates the risk of being overweight except losing weight.

    Abstract: June 16, 2008 — What people do, whether they smoke, and what they eat can mitigate the adverse cardiovascular effects of obesity, but they cannot do away with them altogether, researchers say. While other studies have investigated the relationship between fitness and fatness, this latest study also factors in dietary habits and smoking.

    Reference: Keeping Active, Not Smoking Can Reduce but Not Abolish CV Risks of Obesity. Medscape Medical News. June 16, 2008.

    2.) "Red Yeast Extract Reduces Major Coronary Events in Large, Randomized Clinical Trial."

    Dr. Myatt’s comment: I thought we knew this but yet another study proves it. Look for Red Yeast Rice to be "outlawed" as a nutritional supplement because studies prove that it actually works!

    Abstract: June 16, 2008 — A large, randomized clinical trial with the partially purified extract of Chinese red yeast rice has shown that the extract, known as Xuezhikang (XZK), reduced the risk of major coronary events by almost 50% as well as reduced the risk of cardiovascular and total mortality, in patients with a previous myocardial infarction (MI)

    Reference: Red Yeast Extract Reduces Major Coronary Events in Large, Randomized Clinical Trial; Medscape Medical News.June 16, 2008.

    3.) "Calcium Supplementation May Reduce Fracture Risk."

    Dr. Myatt’s comment: Another one I thought we knew buy hey, here’s more "proof" that people benefit from higher calcium intakes. (And another good reason why Maxi Multi contains a full 1,000mg of calcium).

    Abstract: June 13, 2008 — Calcium supplementation reduced risk for all fractures and minimal traumatic fractures in healthy adults younger than 80 years, according to the results of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial reported in the June issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

    Reference: Calcium Supplementation May Reduce Fracture Risk; Medscape Medical News. June 13, 2008.

    4.) "Omega-3 Fatty Acid Consumption Tied to Lower Risk of Macular Degeneration"

    Dr. Myatt’s Comment: With so many important functions of Omega-3 fatty acids (Remember, that’s why it is called an Essential Fatty Acid), I can’t understand why everyone doesn’t supplement with fish oil in addition to their daily multivitamin/mineral formula.

    Abstract: Jun 13,2008 – High dietary intakes of omega-3 fatty acids and fish appear to lower the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a meta-analysis of observational studies.

    Reference: Omega-3 Fatty Acid Consumption Tied to Lower Risk of Macular Degeneration. Reuters Health Information, Jun 13 , 2008.

    5.) "Low Testosterone Levels Increase Mortality Risk in Men"

    Dr. Myatt’s comment: Long known, yet completely ignored in conventional medicine. Most holistic practitioners (myself included) practice natural hormone replacement therapy with men, not just women.

    Abstract: June 18, 2008 (San Francisco) — A population-based cohort study has demonstrated a link between low levels of testosterone and increased risk for mortality from all causes in adult men of all ages.

    Reference: Low Testosterone Levels Increase Mortality Risk in Men.Medscape Medical News. June 18, 2008.

    6.) "Osteoporosis Drug Promotes Atrial Fibrillation in Population-Based Study"

    Dr. Myatt’s comment: this isn’t the first time you’ve heard me warn of the dangers of "bone building" drugs. The side effects are often worse than the "disease" being treated. Better stick to the basics for preventing osteoporosis: calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, boron, AND strontium (vitamins and minerals needed for bone health); balance the sex hormones and get regular exercise.

    Abstract: April 30, 2008 — Women who have ever taken alendronate (Fosamax, Merck), the bisphosphonate widely prescribed for preservation of bone density that recently went off patent, have an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF), according to a population-based, case-control study in the April 28, 2008 Archives of Internal Medicine.

    Reference: Medscape Medical News, April 30, 2008.

    And Some of the Latest Drug Warnings Announced …

    (More good reasons to avoid drugs and actually fix your health problems whenever possible)

    "Diabetic Ulcer Drug Gets Black Box Warning" Medscape Medical News. June 9, 2008

    Dr. Myatt’s summary: Cecaplermin gel (Regranex, Johnson & Johnson) increases risk for cancer mortality in patients who use 3 or more tubes of the product.

    Evista: The Deadly "Bone-Building" Drug

    Dr. Myatt’s comment: Here’s the "black box warning" from a swell new drug prescribed to help prevent osteoporosis:

    "WARNING: INCREASED RISK OF VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM AND DEATH FROM STROKE
    Increased risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism have been reported with EVISTA® (raloxifene HCl). Women with active or past history of venous thromboembolism should not take EVISTA. Increased risk of death due to stroke occurred in a trial in postmenopausal women with documented coronary heart disease or at increased risk for major coronary events. Consider risk-benefit balance in women at risk for stroke."

    "Digitek Digoxin Tablets Recalled: Possible Double Dose Released by Accident"

    April 29, 2008 (Morristown, NJ) – The manufacturer of Digitek digoxin tablets is recalling the product, saying that it may have accidentally released pills that are double the normal thickness, carrying twice the normal dose.

    Digoxin is used in the treatment of arrhythmias and heart failure, and a double dose could cause toxicity.

    from Heartwire — a professional news service of WebMD

    Dr. Myatt’s Comment: Ever notice that if one manufacturer of a nutritional supplement releases a "bad batch" (remember tryptophan?), the entire supplement is BANNED? But if a drug manufacturer releases a bad batch, hey, they just do a recall and often don’t even apologize for killing people.