Dr. Gordon’s Comments: I find DHEA is useful and I have taken it for years, 50 mg a day. We always need to learn more about it to avoid side effects and achieve the optimal dose. One study showed cancer patients survive far longer if they receive DHEA and oral melatonin. 

Garry F. Gordon MD,DO,MD(H)
President, Gordon Research Institute
www.gordonresearch.com

Link: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/03/19/the-most-common-mistakes-in-bioidentical-hormone-replacement.aspx

Excerpt:

Supplementing With THIS Hormone Can Lead to Tumors and Insomnia 
Posted By Dr. Mercola | March 19 2011 

Before I begin this article I want to state very clearly that hormones are not my primary specialty. I have used them clinically but I found the science quite controversial, so this is a summary as I best understand it.

If you are a clinician with considerable experience in this area I invite you to present your views to update the information on DHEA.

There will always be controversies around Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy but the attached review article at the bottom helps to bring out some very useful information. I particularly appreciate this since it strongly encourages the use of Progesterone Creams either from over the counter or from compounding pharmacies. I strongly favor that approach and feel that there is useful information here about the limitations of various approaches to hormone testing. 

All of that being said, we still need to understand Estrogen Receptor Sites and why I fear the estrogen mimics, which are not discussed in most discussions regarding BHRT. Also the ongoing need to balance these chemicals out with I3C, DIM, glucosinolates, as in MACA, and the wonderful all natural approach we have with PUERARIA (H.R.T. Plus) acting at the molecular level, as a selective estrogen receptor modulator S.E.R.M. beta, which then leads into advanced concepts to protect breasts, bones, brains etc. This approach alone, however, will never provide total support, as topical progesterone will always be needed. 

Read Dr John Lee’s books but today we must add additional information if we are to achieve our maximum intended useful lifespan. Today we hear about the need for supplementation of iodine to maintain healthy breasts and thyroid etc. Some advocate aggressive supplementation with iodine and if we realize that some toxins like fluorine, bromine etc are blocking iodine the need for aggressive iodine supplementation makes more sense. Dramatic reversals of Fibrocystic breast disease and even cases of breast cancer responding to systemic and in some cases topical Iodine treatment directly to the breasts are being reported world-wide today. 

Why do we seem to need such high intakes of Iodine? Let’s look at toxins and their effect on hormone function. 

We have seen documented improvement in growth hormone levels in chelated patients where pituitary function was restored, as mercury levels we lowered. We have seen thyroid function return, as Lead levels were lowered with chelation. There are hundreds of toxins in all of us today and these toxins makes it necessary to use far higher levels of many nutrients including Iodine, Magnesium, Selenium, Vitamin C etc than are usually recommended in nutritional texts to achieve OPTIMAL health in our patients today. 

This is the link to a well written analysis of an OPRAH show on BHRT that may help you in counseling your patients who will easily get confused about all this.

Sincerely,

Garry F. Gordon MD,DO,MD(H)
President, Gordon Research Institute
www.gordonresearch.com

Link: http://www.virginiahopkinstestkits.com/bioidenticalhormonebreastcancer.html

Excerpt:

Dear Oprah,
Your show on bioidentical hormones will surely help millions of women lead healthier lives, and inspire thousands of doctors to learn more about prescribing them. Once again you’ve shown amazing courage in speaking out on a touchy but important subject. Bioidentical hormones are on Big Pharma’s blacklist, and we know how many millions of advertising dollars they bring to television. I also applaud your choice of Dr. Christiane Northrup as an intelligent, rational, informed voice in bioidentical hormone replacement. She has been an articulate spokesperson for bioidenticals for many years.