Is time running out for longevity supplements? - the National Institute of Aging issued a warning to consumers about using DHEA, melatonin and other over-the-counter hormone remedies to prevent aging - Brief Article

Vegetarian Times, Oct, 1997 by Cristin Marandino

The foundation of youth once seemed as elusive as a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Not anymore. There are many who believe that eternal youth and vitality can be achieved with over-the-counter hormones, particularly DHEA and melatonin, which have been marketed as anti-aging formulas, natural sleep aids, fat burners, muscle builders as well as energy, strength and immune system enhancers. Such golden promises earn the supplement industry a whopping $325 million a year. But are the consumers who swallow these pills and their purported benefits actually endangering their health?

The National Institute of Aging (NIA), a government funded agency based in Bethesda, Md., says, "Yes." The NIA recently released a statement warning consumers that, at best, there is insufficient research to prove that DHEA and melatonin are beneficial, and at worst, they may cause confusion, headaches, drowsiness and liver damage as well as breast and prostate cancers.

The burgeoning use of these hormones prompted the NIA to issue this warning. "There was an increase in the number of people taking these substances but very little information on the potential dangers and no labeling regulation," explains Richard Sprott, Ph.D., associate director of the NIA. One of the organization's chief concerns is that natural hormone production is an individualized issue; not everybody produces the same amount of hormones, making it a virtual impossibility to designate a single safe dosage of a particular hormone for an entire population.

Consequently, according to Sprott, the NIA firmly believes these hormones should be available by prescription only and that while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shares this conviction such action is, from a political standpoint, "highly unlikely." Sprott is referring to the Dietary Supplements Health Education Act (DSHEA), a 1994 law that ties the regulatory hands of the FDA. While the agency can take action against the odd dietary supplement that poses an unreasonable risk (as it recently did with ephedra), it cannot regulate an entire category of dietary supplements.

Although the FDA readily admits it is concerned about hormone supplementation, there is no confirmation of potential regulatory action. Arthur Whitemore, spokesperson for the FDA, says only that "There have been very few adverse effects reported from melatonin and DHEA. It's obvious that these hormones don't cause terrible short-term problems. However, our concern is that you're introducing hormones over a period of time and there is no data to demonstrate what that will do over the long-term. But we are locked into peer-reviewed data, and there is not a lot of data to either prove or disprove these claims right now."

However, manufacturers are not turning a blind eye to the NIA and FDA's concerns and, even in the absence of legislation requiring them to do so, are urging consumers to proceed with caution. Natrol, a supplement company based in Chatsworth, Calif., recently released a video statement responding to the NIA's warning. Included in the statement is the cautionary advice of Richard Huemer, M.D., a nutrition and metabolic specialist: "I do think the public needs to be aware that these are hormones and they are not quite the same as vitamins and minerals; they should be treated with respect."

When asked if he believes in regulation that reflects the risks of these hormones, Alan Lewis, consultant for Natrol said, "It's a tricky situation. We're talking about treating an aspect of the human condition that hasn't been treated before--aging. What should be the policy? I believe even if there are risks involved, individuals should have the right to choose and make an informed decision."

What's a consumer to do? Sprott advises that anybody interested in taking these hormones consult a physician well-versed on the subject. Unfortunately for the time being, the only certainty in this battle is that both industry and government researchers will scramble to prove these supplements either medical menaces or miracles. Until conclusive evidence is available, it's important to remember that over-the-counter availability is not an endorsement of these hormones safety or efficacy. For more information on hormone supplements, call the NIA at (800) 222-4225 or (301) 496-1752.

RELATED ARTICLE: What Are Melatonin and DHEA?

Melatonin and DHEA are produced by the pineal and adrenal glands, respectively, and released into the bloodstream as hormones or the chemical precursors of hormones. Once in the bloodstream, they are carried to different parts of the body and set to work affecting target organs and tissues. Proponents of over-the-counter hormone supplementation note that the natural production of melatonin and DHEA steadily decreases after the age of 30, leading to their contention that hormone supplementation slows the aging process.

The claim that DHEA can restore youthfulness stems from its reported ability to improve the characteristics of youth, such as energy, strength, immunity, low cholesterol, increased muscle and decreased fat. Many point to the fact that in order to maintain these qualities, we must sustain the level of hormones we had at the age of 25 or 30. Others say that the dimly understood relationship between hormones and youth does not yield enough scientific evidence to support these claims and certainly not enough to disprove any dangers.