Dr. Dawn Huo, PhD researches innovative hormone testing at Meridian Valley Laboratories. She has created the first commercially available serum hormone test profile to include 3β,5α-androstanediol (3β-adiol) in the United States and Canada.
Some researchers believe that 3β-adiol may be a very important prostate cancer risk marker. This easy-to-take testosterone profile is currently available at Meridian Valley Laboratories and includes other prostate related markers that can help you check your prostate cancer risk.
In the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT), 18,882 men over the age of 55 years with normal prostate exams and PSAs were given Finasteride.1 This drug prevents the production of DHT as well as 3β-adiol. Many researchers, after reviewing the results of this 7 year study, feel that while DHT levels are important, levels of 3β-adiol are also important.
A review by the Biology of Reproduction Journal states, “We believe that a higher incidence of low-differentiated tumors in the finasteride-treated arm observed in the PCPT is caused by altering the normal differentiation of prostatic epithelium in the environment lacking the natural ERb ligand—3β-androstanediol.”2 Translation: They believe 3β-adiol helps prevent higher grade (worse) prostate cancers.
The PCPT researchers concluded, “Finasteride prevents or delays the appearance of prostate cancer, but this possible benefit and a reduced risk of urinary problems must be weighed against sexual side-effects and the increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer.” These sexual side-effects include impotence, decreased desire for sex, and decreased ejaculatory volume.
This hormone profile will also include dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone, and androstenedione, which are important markers related to prostate cancer risk and assist doctors providing testosterone replacement therapy. Dr. Huo has included 3β-adiol because the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial and the clinical experience of Dr. Jonathan Wright, MD – the father of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy – have provided evidence that the ratio of DHT to 3β-adiol may be more important than the amount of DHT alone.
Dr. Jonathan Wright, MD discusses 5AR Over-inihibition
Testosterone is converted to DHT via the 5α-reductase enzyme. DHT is a potent androgen and along with testosterone causes proliferation and secretion in the prostate gland (dedifferentiating) by activating androgen receptors.3 Then DHT is converted to 3β-adiol via a 3β-HSD reaction.3 3β-androstanediol is a differentiation (redifferentiating) agent that activates estrogen beta receptors.4 The process of cancer development is primarily a dedifferentiation process.
A study by the Cochrane Review found that 5α-reductase inhibitors have inadequate evidence to say they reduce mortality, in terms of prostate cancer.5 Elevated levels of DHT may increase male patients’ risks of developing prostate cancer and a metabolite of DHT, 3β-adiol, may actually help prevent and reduce the grade of prostate cancers. The production of the this important metabolite is reduced by 5α-reductase inhibitors.
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