Bioidentical hormones, similar to the body's natural hormones, can play a useful role in treating patients with hormone deficiencies. Men with low levels of masculine hormones can take bioidentical testosterone to enhance physical strength and increase body weight. Women with low levels of feminine hormones can take bioidentical estrogen and progesterone to reduce symptoms of menopause. Bioidentical hormone therapy provides several benefits beyond those offered by synthetic hormone treatment.
More Effective
Men requiring testosterone replacement therapy to treat age-related hypogonadism can benefit more from using bioidenticals than from nonbioidenticals. Transdermal hormone delivery is considered bioidentical because the body can slowly absorb the testosterone molecule though the skin. A 2010 paper presented in the "Journal of Endocrinological Investigation" looked at transdermal versus oral testosterone. Results indicated that bioidentical testosterone produced a more natural hormone profile. It also more effectively treated the metabolic problems commonly associated with hypogonadism. These problems, such as high blood sugar, put hypogonadic men at risk for diabetes. Yet this risk can be reduced by taking bioidentical testosterone.
Less Interactive
People needing to take multiple medications may find bioidentical hormones less interactive. A 2001 investigation published in the "American Journal of Physiology" compared bioidentical and nonbioidentical estrogen in female patients also requiring growth hormone replacement. In this study, bioidentical estrogen was delivered transdermally and nonbioidentical estrogen was delivered orally. Testing occurred before and during growth hormone therapy. Female subjects in the nonbioidentical group who had already been taking estrogen had lower levels of protein synthesis before receiving growth hormone treatment. And subjects in the bioidentical group had greater levels of protein synthesis during growth hormone replacement. These data suggest that nonbioidentical estrogen may adversely affect body composition. It also causes a drug interaction that negates some positive effects of other therapies.
More Restorative
Patients experiencing menopause often have difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep, according to a 2003 analysis offered in the "Journal of Sleep Research." This study also showed that hormone replacement using nonbioidentical substances, while effective for most menopause symptoms, failed to improve objective measures of sleep quality. However, a 2001 experiment described in the periodical "Menopause" revealed that replacing the nonbioidentical progesterone contained in the hormone replacement protocol with a bioidentical improved sleep. Micronized progesterone, taken as a vaginal suppository, increased sleep efficiency scores and decreased time spent awake. These changes led to an increase in daytime alertness. Thus bioidentical progesterone appears more restorative than synthetic progesterone.
Less Dangerous
Women taking conventional forms of hormone replacement may develop drug-induced cardiovascular disease. Such patients can benefit from switching to bioidentical hormones. A 2008 report in the "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism" compared equine estrogen and natural estrogen intake in postmenopausal women. Both groups also received bioidentical progesterone. The transdermal estrogen and micronized progesterone combination put less stress on the women's liver as indicated by blood markers of inflammation and coagulation. The latter finding is particularly important, as women on replacement therapy often experience blood clotting, which can lead to cardiovascular disease.
References
- "Journal of Endocrinological Investigation"; Efficacy and Safety of Two Different Testosterone Undecanoate Formulations in Hypogonadal Men With Metabolic Syndrome; A. Aversa et al.; March 10, 2010
- "American Journal of Physiology"; Oral Estrogen Antagonizes the Metabolic Actions of Growth Hormone in Growth Hormone-Deficient Women; Troels Wolthers et al.; December 2001
- "Journal of Sleep Research"; Insomnia Related to Postmenopausal Syndrome and Hormone Replacement Therapy; Gerda Saletu-Zyhlarz et al.; August 2003
- "Menopause"; Sleep in Menopause: Differential Effects of Two Forms of Hormone Replacement Therapy; J. Montplaisir et al.; January 2001
- "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism"; A Comparison of the Short-Term Effects of Oral Conjugated Equine Estrogens Versus Transdermal Estradiol on C-Reactive Protein, Other Serum Markers of Inflammation, and Other Hepatic Proteins in Naturally Menopausal Women; Jan L. Shifren et al.; 2008
