Differences Between Bio-Identical and Bio-Mimetic Hormone Therapy

Mar 11
09:42

2008

Kristin DeAnn Gabriel

Kristin DeAnn Gabriel

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During the last century, medical practitioners and women alike have become accustomed to talking about bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) in menopause medicine. But there is a problem with this terminology. Hormones are not really bio-identical. They can be mimicked, but they are not identical. Furthermore, they cannot be replaced, rather they can be restored.

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Medical practitioners and women alike have become accustomed to talking about bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) in menopause medicine. But there is a problem with this terminology. Hormones are not really bio-identical. They can be mimicked,Differences Between Bio-Identical and Bio-Mimetic Hormone Therapy Articles but they are not identical, and they can be restored, not replaced.

Recent treatments for women in menopause include the multi-phasic rhythmic dosing of bio-mimetic hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) using natural hormones. More than two million women in the U.S. use customized hormones for menopause symptoms.

"Natural hormones are not bio-mimedic unless the body can recognize them as hormones, and they are not considered restoration unless what has been lost is truly restored," said Author T.S. Wiley.

"If hormone restoration was made of real bio-mimedic hormones and dosed to mimic the ups and downs of the hormone blood levels in a normal menstrual cycle in a young woman, would all of the symptoms aging decline or disappear?"

Currently an accepted standard for compounded bio-identical hormone replacement protocol or therapy does not exist. However, she has created a registered pharmacy system to circumvent the current lack of legitimacy and availability of bio-mimetic, currently known as bio-identical hormones, for testing and study.

Further, a new study is underway at University of Texas and its multi-phasic physiologic dosing will be called Bioidentical Hormones On Trial, or B.H.O.T., a comparison of patterns of administration and dosing of compounded bio-identical hormone therapy (BHT). This study will be the first of its kind to track and quantify outcomes based on dosing and patterns of administration of BHT. The main objective of the study will be to examine clinical outcomes and quality of life indicators of patients receiving BHT at 10 to 12 primary care provider's practices.

The results of the study will be used to help establish which dosage and pattern of BHT administration is most effective. Study results will be used to design a prospective, randomized clinical trial with the goal of standardizing BHT administration and dosing patterns.

The study is an observational, prospective study of women ages 35 to 60 who are current users of compounded bioidentical hormone therapy (BHT). Clinical care of study participants will not be changed as a result of study participation. The study's duration is slated for three years. Outcomes to be monitored include quality of life, symptom relief, and impact of BHT on physical health including breast, endometrial, and cardiovascular measures.

These critically needed study results will be presented at national and international meetings, and will be submitted for publication in professional journals to share the findings with women's health care professionals. Study results will be used to design a prospective, randomized clinical trial with the goal of standardizing BHT administration and dosing patterns.

The primary objectives of the study are to: examine the outcomes clinically and quality of life indicators of those patients receiving bio-identical hormone replacement therapy at primary ten to twelve practices of primary care providers; compare the effectiveness and safety, and quality of life of participants using one of three dosing patterns for bio-identical hormones: multi-phasic physiologic, bi-phasic or continuous dosing; monitor imaging and lab data of the women who are using these bio-identicals; evaluate hormone regimen safety by tracking adverse events experienced by women using bio-identical hormone therapy; and assess the performance of compounding pharmacies in standardizing the products.