093 - Bioidentical Hormones / Gene Therapy / Natural Health Product Regulation

The Body of Evidence

What does the body of evidence say on the topic of bioidentical hormones? Plus: a new gene therapy troublingly gets approved by the FDA, and Health Canada finally changes how it regulates natural health products (a little).

Block 1:

(2:19) Bioidentical hormones: sex hormones, hormone replacement therapy, testosterone replacement therapy, and what “bioidentical hormone” means

Block 2:

(9:36) Bioidentical hormones: biosimilars, compounding pharmacies, regulation, the all-natural claim, why bioidentical hormones are not safer, and the individualization claim

Block 3:

(22:17) A controversial new gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Block 4:

(39:32) Health Canada is coming for your vitamins (or not)

* Jingle by Joseph Hackl

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

* Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova

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References:

1) Our previous episode on menopause and hormone replacement therapy: https://bodyofevidence.ca/071-menopause-and-psychedelics

2) Our previous episode on testosterone: https://bodyofevidence.ca/028-testosterone-and-bad-food-science

3) Chris’ article on the overprescription of testosterone therapy: https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/christopher-labos-many-men-prescribed-testosterone-dont-need-it

4) Jonathan’s article on biosimilars: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/general-science/when-living-things-make-our-drugs-us

5) A recent New England Journal of Medicine study about testosterone safety: https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa2215025

6) FDA review of compounded products: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/report-limited-fda-survey-compounded-drug-products

7) Report of endometrial cancer in women using compounded hormonal therapy: https://doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.2007.tb01210.x

8) Jonathan’s article on Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/medical/controversial-gene-therapy-duchenne-muscular-dystrophy

9) Health Canada’s changes to the regulation of natural health products: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/legislation-guidelines/protecting-canadians-unsafe-drugs-act-vanessa-law-amendments-food-drugs-act.html

It’s Not Twitter, But It’ll Do:

1) Jonathan’s article on the milkmaid myth: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/medical-critical-thinking-history/white-lie-heart-vaccine-history

2) Jonathan quoted in TIME magazine about Andrew Huberman: https://time.com/6290594/andrew-hubman-lab-podcast-interview/

3) Pre-order Chris’ book! http://doescoffeecausecancer.com/