This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

This is an old story so not sure why it's news again. Seems a safe and inexpensive treatment. Not sure why they can't test it on 50 male MS patients for a year and then, if positive results are seen, add it to the armoury!

Ian


http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?j635116371&w=464753

This Test. thing is really interesting. I'm 44 and i've been a dedicated lifter since I was 16. I was dxed when I was 42. In the past two years since I have been dxed, I've noticed that when I am able to lift, my symptoms seem to get better. It' been shown that lifting greatly increases one's Test. level. Maybe lifting all those years helped keep my MS at bay. I remember having some of my symptoms since my late teens but nothing serious happened until I was 42. As I've gotten older my schedule has not allowed me to lift as often add that to the idea that my Test. was naturally decreasing. It's interesting to note that my new MS clinic requires all patients to lift weights if they are able. Makes sense to me.

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Hi Lyon

Ladies, I'll be in the village square at noon tomorrow for public stoning.

Which village square might that be? I don't want to miss it.

Sharon

oo

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Lyon

Your eyes are bad. It says shark. I'm just kidding too. Lucky for you I'm traveling for the next two weeks so won't be able to take you on.

Suffice it to say there's a substantial body of research (including the infamous Faroe Island studies) suggesting that sex hormones are in fact a risk factor for MS. Oral contraceptives were identified to be of potential benefit for women with MS in 1969. The failure to seriously study gender differences and hormones in this disease is, IMO, a glaring omission in MS research. I can get really mad.

Seriously, some have suggested that testosterone could explain the gender difference in susceptibility to MS and why far fewer men than women are diagnosed with it.

I don't know if testosterone levels rise in pregnancy and it's my understanding most of the testosterone in women is produced in the adrenal glands.

Toyoterry--I quite agree...the change in hormone levels with age is something to think about. When they tested testosterone levels in people with MS they were low in both men and women and a higher percentage of women than men had low testosterone levels. I'm all in favor of people with MS having their testosterone level checked and if it's low, working with a physician to get it into the normal range. Hey, lifting weights might help too.

Ian--it may be an old story, but it's a good one. If testosterone comes on the market for MS before estriol I'll be really, really mad.

Take care all

Sharon

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Dear all,

Dr Voskuhl has been involved in hormone research related to MS for some time. If you put her name in google there are lots of articles.

Sharon - don't get angry - although anger might increase your testosterone level!

Terry - you've inspired me to put together the rowing machine which my wife bought for me in March and to set up my weights bench. Also, good weather is forecast this weekend so I will get out in the sun for some more Vit D.

Ian

This was a great thread. Toyoterry, if you have time, could you post further detailing recommendations of your MS clinic regarding weights/exercise. Also, have you seen anything that lifting increases testosterone in women (I mean, lifting as it would be done as a part of overall fitness, body building stuff).

In a related train of thought, why don't researchers look at the use of DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) as a treatment option? One of the many functions of DHEA in the body is its conversion into testosterone when the body needs more. It also declines with age.

The following is a nice summary of some of the research that has looked at DHEA and its role in MS (and EAE).

DHEA also deserves attention in people of both sexes who have MS. DHEA is a steroid hormone. Altered levels of DHEA have been associated with various autoimmune diseases and their symptoms, including MS (Calabrese VP et al 1990). One study found that people with MS have relatively lower DHEA levels compared to healthy control subjects and that, at least in animals, DHEA therapy reduces T-cell proliferation, secretion of pro-inflammatory chemicals, and nitric oxide synthesis (Du C et al 2001; Offner H et al 2002; Ramsaransing GS et al 2005). Similarly, researchers have found that people with MS have a higher ratio of cortisol (the body's main stress hormone) to DHEA than do healthy control subjects, although this is probably a symptom of the disease rather than a causal factor (Kumpfel T et al 1999).

DHEA is already in phase III trials for the treatment of SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) and is also being looked at as a treatment for Crohn's disease, two other inflammatory autoimmune disorders. Even if you don't buy into the autoimmune theory, balancing horomone levels can't hurt. Plus, DHEA has antiviral properties and helps with the growth of neuronal cells in the hippocampus.

Perhaps it isn't being looked at because there is no money to be made. You can obtain DHEA in most states without a prescription and it is relatively inexpensive. Of course, before anyone considers taking DHEA as a supplement, you should have your serum blood levels checked. Personally, this is something I am working on getting tested.

VS