Scepticism

Although the risks associated with some anti-aging products have been first proclaimed many years ago, these products continue circulating in the Internet and do not lose popularity among many people. It would be helpful to recall some facts described, for example, in the HEALTH PRODUCTS FOR SENIORS Anti-Aging Products Pose Potential for Physical and Economic Harm report (2001) by General Accounting Office of the U.S.A. to Special Committee on Aging. According to the report, many of anti-aging products can cause serious adverse effects: “DHEA may increase the risk of breast, prostate, and endometrial cancer, and shark cartilage has been associated with thyroid hormone toxicity.” Other DHEA side effects: increased facial hair, scalp hair loss, aggressiveness, liver abnormalities, increased risk of heart disease, stroke, insomnia and fatigue, to name a few. Melatonin can cause: infertility, reduced sex drive in males, retinal damage, diabetes, and cancer. Omega-3 fatty acid promotes bleeding, abdominal bloating, and increases cholesterol.

Also, many of the tested anti-aging products do not meet the specifications indicated on the label: “For example, one study of DHEA found that only 44 percent of the products sampled were within this range and one brand contained 150 percent of the amount.” While some products contain more of the active ingredients than indicated in the description, others may hold only trace amounts or no active ingredients at all. This was true for one-fifth of the DHEA products tested. Less than 20 percent of their active ingredient was found in garlic products, and no detectable levels of an active ingredient were found in 35 percent of ginseng products

Dr. Robert Atkins pointed out: “The Quality and absorbability of DHEA supplements will vary from brand to brand, and I’m not at all certain that everything labeled “DHEA” truly is the real thing. Some products contain dioscorea, also known as “Mexican yam,” which manufacturers claim is either actual DHEA or one of its natural precursors. Don’t be duped. No metabolic pathway exists for converting this plant into DHEA.” ( Dr. Atkins’ Vita-Nutrient Solution). The doctor suggests that hormone restoration isn’t a do-it-yourself project. If you are subscribed to hormone supplementation you need the help of a trained professional who will monitor your hormone level and blood pressure on a regular basis.

Judith Reichman, the author of I’m Too Young to Get Old, tells that it is too early to proclaim DHEA the steroid of youth and that the response to this drug varies: “Men treated with a high dose (1,600 milligrams) of DHEAs showed improvement in their lipid profiles. When women received the same amount, they went into male hormone “shock” and resembled “Sick” (heart-wise) men. They became resistant to insulin, their insulin levels increased, […]. Since insulin stimulates male-pattern obesity, it is not good for our hearts or our weight.”

(an article from anti-aging newsletter: http://www.abc-antiaging.com)

http://www.abc-antiaging.com

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