Cholesterol was lower and quality of life was improved after 6 months of Tai Chi. More research will be needed to confirm this reduction in cardiovascular risk factors.

Originally posted 2009-03-08 22:29:33.

16 studies were selected for this review. The benefits of black cohosh remain to be proven and possible side effects are a concern.

Drugs Aging. 2009;26(1):23-36.

Originally posted 2009-02-01 00:01:47.

The author concludes that bioidentical hormones should be the preferred method of hormone replacement therapy unless future randomized controlled trials show contrary evidence.

Originally posted 2009-04-22 07:06:00.

Menopausal hormone therapy for postmenopausal women is recommended to treat menopausal symptoms and to reduce the risk of medical conditions such as osteoporosis.

“This paper reports a 12 plus months follow up on 189 patients who were administered natural estrogen plus progesterone with or without DHEA or testosterone according to a rationalized protocol described later.”

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is produced by adrenal glands and it acts on the androgen receptor.

Estrogen therapy is used to the vasomotor symptoms of hot flushes and night sweats which can be severe. In Europe, transderaml estrogen therapy is most commonly prescribed. Transdermal 17beta-estradiol may have fewer health risks than oral estrogen therapy.

Transdermal estrogen avoids first-pass metabolism in the liver so that lower doses are required compared to oral estrogen which undergoes first-pass metabolism and reduces bioavailability.

“Major risk factors for postmenopausal osteoporosis (as defined by bone mineral density) include advanced age, genetics, lifestyle factors (such as low calcium and vitamin D intake, smoking), thinness, and menopause status. The most common risk factors for osteoporotic fracture are advanced age, low bone mineral density, and previous fracture as an adult. Management focuses first on nonpharmacologic measures, such as a balanced diet, adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, adequate exercise, smoking cessation, avoidance of excessive alcohol intake, and fall prevention. If pharmacologic therapy is indicated, government-approved options are bisphosphonates, selective estrogen-receptor modulators, parathyroid hormone, estrogens, and calcitonin.”

“Conclusion: In daily practice conditions, high doses of isoflavones, particularly genistein, can be used for the management of hot flushes in postmenopausal women not treated with hormone replacement therapy due to their superior efficacy to placebo and very good safety profile.”

Strenuous exercise lowered the odds of new-onset breast discomfort by almost 50%.