The Missing Hormone That Could Restore Your Hearing
Jonathan V. Wright, M.D.
Dennis Trune, Ph’D., of Oregon Health Sciences University, pioneered that research showing that the naturally occurring adrenal steroid hormone aldosterone can of then reverse hearing loss in animals.
Based on Dr. Trune’s work, I’ve had aldosterone levels tested in many individuals with hearing loss (most of them “older”), and an significant number turned out to have low or “low normal” measurements. But after taking bio-identical aldosterone in “physiologic” quantities, amounts that would normally be present in adult human bodies, more than half of these individuals have regained a significant proportion of their “lost” hearing.
I’ve been surprised by two aspects of bio-identical aldosterone treatment for hearing loss. First, when it works, it works relatively rapidly, restoring a significant degree of hearing within the first two months. In fact, a few of the people I’ve worked with have literally heard improvement within just two to three weeks.
The other thing that surprised me about aldosterone therapy is that it’s capable of restoring a significant degree of hearing even years after the hearing loss initially occurred. So far, the longest interval I’ve witnessed was in an 87-year-old man who’d lost his hearing 13 years prior to regaining a significant degree of it using aldosterone.
None of the people I’ve worked with have had any adverse effects from aldosterone therapy, likely because the use of bio-identical, physiologic dose aldosterone restores levels to those that would be found in the body anyway.
I’ve focused this treatment on individuals with hearing loss and low or low-normal aldosterone levels, but I do know of one individual, an M.D., who decided to try this approach for his hearing loss even though his aldosterone levels were quite Norman. His hearing did improve, but unless you too are an M.D., D.O., or N.D. who can prescribe bio-identical aldosterone and order lab tests for sodium and potassium (sodium and potassium regulation are two of aldosterone’s major responsibilities), please don’t take aldosterone, bio-identical or not, if your measured levels are perfectly normal!
Measuring and Monitoring Aldosterone
Many labs use blood tests to measure aldosterone levels, but I definitely prefer measuring aldosterone as part of an overall steroid analysis done from a 24-hr urine collection. This test measures all the aldosterone output in a 24-hr period; since aldosterone and other steroid hormones are secreted into the bloodstream in “pulses”, a blood test isn’t quite as accurate.
Also, the 24-hr urine collection measures the “hormone context” in which aldosterone is found, including measurements of cortisol, cortisone, and “downstream metabolites” of cortisol and cortisone. Putting these measurements together allows your physician to assess your adrenal strength and weakness.
The 24-hr urine test also measures pro-carcinogenic estrogens (estrone, estradiol, 16-alpha-hydroxyestrogens, 4-hydroxyestrogens) and anti-carcinogenic estrogens (estriol, 2-hydroxyestrogens, 2-methoxyestradiol, 2-methoxyestone), as well as progesterone, testosterone, and testosterone’s pro- and anti-carcinogenic metabolites DHT and androstanediol (”5-alpha” and “5-beta” forms of both). Thyroind hormones (free T3 and free T4) and growth hormone (HGH) can be added to the test, too.
These measurements may seem unrelated, but all of these hormones interact with each other, so a physician skilled and knowledgeable in bio-identical hormone replacement can do a lot more for you if he or she has ALL of your hormonal information.
Those of you who have been reading Nutrition & Healing for some time know that I’m the Medical Director for Meridian Valley Labs. Back in 1982 I asked them to develop the 24-hour urine analysis so that so I could do a better job with bio-identical hormone replacement for Tahoma Clinic clients. I’ve been using it ever since and it has proven to be an invaluable tool. By Washington state law, individuals can order their own lab tests, including the 24-hr urine analysis. To find out more about it, contact Meridain Valley Labs: (425) 271-8689 and website www.meridianvalleylab.com .
NUTRITION AND HEALING October 2008 www.wrightnewsletter.com
