By Rachael Philip

AFTER two days of addressing doctors in Mumbai, India, Dr Thierry Hertoghe arrives in Malaysia and is whisked off to a hotel in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Here he delivers round-the-clock sessions with Q&A before flying to Europe.

Before his presentation starts, he chews on a plate of fresh fruit as he takes my questions. He's a leading authority on anti-ageing, a walking success story.

I shoot my first question: What's the secret? Good diet, exercise, a positive outlook on life and bio-identical hormones.

Bio what? First things first. Dr Hertoghe hopes to live until 130. In fact, the world's leading hormone guru believes he will be in good health until then and could go on for another 20 years.

"I'm doing all I can to prolong life, except one thing: I don't get enough sleep. Sleeping less than seven hours shortens life," he stresses.

Living on a strict diet, he eats lots of fresh vegetables and fruit. Berries, lemons and grapefruits are high on his list, as are cruciferous vegetables.

Protein is cooked at very low temperatures. He never takes it grilled or barbecued but steamed. He also avoids alcohol, coffee and tobacco.

In addition to sufficient nutrition, physical exercise is important, and this busy doctor always makes time for it.

"Your psychological disposition is also important. Think positive and keep the humour going," says the 53-year-old Belgian.

Over 100 private practitioners and specialists grabbed the opportunity to listen to Dr Hertoghe speak about bio-identical hormone treatment, a substitute to hormone replacement therapy.

Bio-identical hormones are molecules that are identical to the hormones produced by the human body. They are used to treat both women and men for a host of health problems - infertility, varicose veins, prostate cancer, incontinence, male pattern baldness, fibroids.

While surgery is the final option for patients aiming to look younger and Botox injections are popular, Dr Hertoghe recommends bio-identical hormone treatment. Bio-identical hormone treatment comes in many forms. Among them are creams, gels and injections.

"In the long run, Botox can be harmful. This treatment targets specific areas only. But bio-identical hormone treatment can have an overall effect. It can even target emotional ageing," he says.

"Bio-identical hormones are safer and natural. They are also very potent and can prolong life from 10 to 30 years.

"There are lots of new developments and research in this field. Some doctors are working on reversing Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, so it's very exciting."

There are scores of hormones in both the male and female bodies, and Dr Hertoghe has mastered the art of tweaking the levels of these hormones to make you feel better and delay ageing. He makes it his mission to travel the world and teach doctors.

He also maintains a hotline for doctors only on his website (www.hertoghe.eu) and sees patients at his clinic in Belgium, which has a long waiting list.

A successful doctor, he says, is one who learns to balance the hormone levels well. In this way, it's a custom-made treatment and physicians must adapt solutions to individual patients.

Dr Hertoghe comes from a family of doctors who specialise in this field. He and his sister Dr Therese are fourth-generation doctors, starting with Dr Eugene in 1882 (the beginning of modern endocrinology) and followed by Dr Luc and Dr Jacques.

The author of Hormone Handbook, which is into its second publication, Dr Hertoghe graduated as a medical doctor at Universite Catholique de Laouvain in Belgium in 1986.

In 2005, he obtained a certificate in anti-ageing therapeutics at University Centre of Charleroi and diploma in anti-ageing medicine specialisation at the European Institute of Scientific Anti-Aging Medicine in Paris.

He is also co-founder of the International Hormone Society, which is based in Kansas City, US, and president of the World Society of Anti-Aging Medicine in Rome.

He does not like the term "anti-ageing" and prefers "reversing ageing" instead.

"My patients come to me when they are in their 70s. What kind of anti-ageing treatment can I do for them? Instead, we work on reversal treatments such as wiping out wrinkles, giving them more stamina and even increasing their sexual desire," says the father-of-two who lives with his partner of 23 years.

Has he prolonged the life of any of his patients? Not yet, he says.

"My clinic is visited by mainly baby boomers. They are the ones who prefer hormone treatment. Maybe in a few years' time."