Media Campaign Cautions Consumers About Anti-aging Hormone

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NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

National Institute Aging

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NIA Public Information Office

(410) 558-8114 or (301) 496-1752

 

Media Campaign Cautions Consumers About " Anti-aging " Hormone

Supplements

 

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National

Institutes of Health, is launching an education effort urging

consumers to use caution when it comes to " anti-aging " hormone

supplements that have become popular recently. Consumers can call 1-

800-222-2225 to order a free NIA fact sheet about hormone

supplements. The NIA also is releasing television announcements

encouraging consumers to call the toll-free number.

 

Contrary to popular claims, none of the supplements described in the

fact sheet, including melatonin, DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone),

human growth hormone (hGH), testosterone, and estrogen, has been

shown to prevent or reverse aging. Research ultimately may reveal

important health benefits from some of the supplements, in addition

to those already confirmed. But, in the meantime, scientists are

concerned about the dangerous side effects associated with some of

the supplements, and about the possibility of undiscovered health

risks.

 

Consumers can buy DHEA and melatonin over the counter, resulting in

widespread use unsupervised by physicians. Part of the scientists'

concern stems from the fact that research on melatonin and DHEA, and

of unconventional " anti-aging " uses of other, more well-established

hormone supplements, is relatively new. With the exception of

testosterone and estrogen, researchers have not had time to complete

the carefully controlled, long-term studies that are needed to show

how these hormone supplements affect people over time.

 

Testosterone, estrogen, and hGH are available by prescription only,

and in cases of genuine deficiency, have been shown to confer

important health benefits when taken under a doctor's supervision.

However, unsupervised use of any hormone supplement can lead to

health problems.

 

DHEA supplements may affect the body in some of the same ways as

testosterone and estrogen. Research has demonstrated that melatonin

supplements can, under certain circumstances, affect the body's

sleep/wake cycle to enhance sleep.

 

Hormones are powerful chemicals produced by glands. Whether made

internally by glands or taken externally as supplements, hormones

enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body. Tiny amounts

of hormones may have far-reaching effects. Several NIA-funded

studies of hormone supplements are under way.

 

In addition to the new fact sheet, other NIA publications on aging-

related topics are available through the same toll-free number, 1-

800-222-2225, and on the NIA home page (http://nih.gov/nia).

 

The NIA leads the Federal effort supporting medical and social

research on aging and the special needs of older people.

 

http://www.nia.nih.gov/news/pr/1997/04%2D01.htm