LifeCare Chiropractic

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Hormone

Higher Estrogen Linked to Decreased Homocysteine – (08-17-00)

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Higher Estrogen Linked to Decreased Homocysteine

This may be one of the routes by which estrogen is known to lower risk of heart disease. Of course, supplementing with folic acid, Vit B12 and B6 will also lower levels of homocysteine WITHOUT increasing your risk of breast and endometrial cancer.

Am J Epidemiol 2000;152:140-148 Data from the Third National Health and nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) indicate that estrogen status is inversely related to total homocysteine concentration, a risk factor for vascular occlusion. “Perhaps supplementation with estrogen would be beneficial to women by lowering their homocysteine concentration and thereby lowering their risk of heart attack and stroke,” Dr. Morris said. But, she cautioned, “this was a descriptive study, so one cannot draw clinical conclusions about the benefits of estrogen supplementation.”

Pharmacological and endogenous progestins induce vascular endothelial growth factor expression in human breast cancer cells – (06-14-01)

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Pharmacological and endogenous progestins induce vascular endothelial growth factor expression in human breast cancer cells

I left the long title for a reason here. At first glance, this article appears to suggest that progesterone produced by the body may increase breast cancer risk. Reading into the article itself arises some very, very important issues. These are related to nomenclature. Progestins are synthetic hormones that have been altered in order to create a patent on the substance. They mimic progesterone but THEY ARE NOT PROGESTERONE. They have been mutated and the body knows the difference. This article does NOT use progesterone–the authors used progestins and then extrapolated the results over to natural progesterone–a very dangerous and unforgivable error. It would be interesting to see if natural progesterone actually did have the same effects. I believe it would not.

Article Abstract

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Determinants of serum enterolactone concentration – (06-04-01)

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Determinants of serum enterolactone concentration

Enterolactone is a lignan found in many whole grains, fruits and berries. This study looks at factors that would influence plasma levels of enterolactone. Enterolactone is a substance that has a wonderful effects on lowering risk of many hormone-related cancers. The authors lend much weight to the contribution that healthy GI flora play a large part in production of these lignans.

AJCN — Abstracts: Kilkkinen et al. 73 (6): 1094

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HRT – Fact or Fiction?? – (12-31-01)

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HRT – Fact or Fiction??

This is an excellent editorial on the rampant use of HRT in medicine. The article uses well referenced material to basically state that there is a paucity of evidence to support the use of HRT in peri and post-menopausal women and even less on the safety. So why are meds like Premarin so incredibly prevalent? The cynic that loves a Mac over an IBM would gladly give you the answer–good marketing… Remember that managing perimenopause does NOT require medications in the vast majority of women. Blunt the estrogen peaks with progesterone cream (downregulates the estrogen receptors) and fill in the valleys with some form of phytoestrogens (soy, black cohosh, licorice…).

December 2001 SMJ

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Bisphenol A Detected in Canned Food in UK – (05-31-01)

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Bisphenol A Detected in Canned Food in UK

This substance acts as a xenoestrogen…mimicking the effect of estrogen in the body. These class of substances have been linking to many diseases, including breast cancer, PMS and early onset of puberty. Nearly two-thirds of the canned food tested contained levels of this chemical. To me, this is quite scary. It may be that the levels in any one can is not significant, but when you add that to other sources in the environment (plastics, certain pesticides, HRT…) the cumulative effect may be great. Then, look at the fact that many women have deficiencies in the way their own body detoxifies estrogen (liver problems, B vitamin deficiency, yeast overgrowth, pathogenic flora in GI tract…) it becomes even more of a concern.

(article) The results of a new survey by the UK government’s food watchdog has shown that the seepage of the oestrogen-mimicking compound bisphenol A (BPA) into canned food is widespread. Nearly two thirds of tinned food assessed by the Food Standards Agency’s Committee on Toxicity including Heinz baled beans, Tesco tuna and Sainsbury’s fruit cocktail were found to contain BPA. Although the committee declared the level of contamination as “unlikely to be of concern to health,” environmentalists have called for an alternative to BPA to be developed as a matter of urgency. Animal research has shown that BPA enlarges the size of the prostate gland in mice, advances the onset of puberty in females and reduces fertility in rats. The findings have led to speculation that the build up of BPA in humans — the chemical is also found in white dental fillings — may be responsible for the rise in testicular cancer, prostate cancer and reduced sperm counts. Children and unborn babies are thought to be at greatest risk of the effects of BPA because of their smaller body size.

Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Dysfunction in Chronic Fatigue – (08-20-01)

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Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Dysfunction in Chronic Fatigue

It is wonderful to see an article address this aspect of fatigue, whether related to CFS or not. Slowing down of the adrenal cortex, most commonly as a result of the nutrient deprived, high stress Western lifestyle, can lead to fatigue. Adrenal function tests are well accepted and easy to do. Salivary analysis of the free hormones (remember that the “free” ones are the form of hormones that do the work…typical bloodwork looks for the bound hormones, which are non-functional) can give a very good picture of the health of the adrenal cortex. Most studies look for levels of dhea and cortisol. Treatment for hypocortisolism in this study looks to low dose hydrocortisone. However, natural treatments to balance out cortisol levels are also quite common and effective.

JCEM — Abstracts: Cleare et al. 86 (8): 3545

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Age-related changes of sex hormones, IGF-1 levels in men – (01-25-01)

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Age-related changes of sex hormones, IGF-1 levels in men

This study identifies a decrease in levels of circulating IGF-1 levels in men as they age. Many in the anti-aging camp would jump on this as support for the use of growth hormone (which stimulates release of IGF-1) as a fountain of youth. Too many times in the past we have jumped on just such a bandwagon; DHEA, colostrum and many others. Many times, what we find when we dig deeper is that these hormonal levels have dropped because of some shift in metabolism; either as a result of deficiencies in some nutrient or as a protective factor. I always hesitate to mess with Mother Nature. Lets work on quality of life, not quantity.

Synergy Abstract

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EU Scientists Confirm Hormone-Treated Beef Risks – (05-09-02)

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EU Scientists Confirm Hormone-Treated Beef Risks

Okay…so Europe won’t take most of our beef because the growth hormones in them pose a potential risk to human health. But here in the United States this same hormone treated beef is perfectly safe. Looking at the fact that we have girls developing breasts at single digit ages possibly due to the “safe” hormones in meat, I would lean just a little more towards Europes’ stance…

Read entire article here

Apr 23 – New checks by European scientists have confirmed fears that using growth hormones on cattle could affect human health, the European Commission said on Tuesday. The findings reinforce opinions issued in 1999 and 2000 on hormone-treated beef, which the EU used to support its ban on them. This resulted in a trade row with the United States where they are used extensively. The European Union’s scientific committee, which reviewed 17 case studies, “confirmed that the use of hormones to stimulate the growth of cattle raises a potential risk for consumers’ health,” the Commission said. The committee “has found no reason to change its earlier opinions issued in 1999 and 2000,” it added in a statement. In 1999, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruled that the EU’s decade-old embargo was illegal and authorized Washington to impose $117 million of sanctions on EU goods in retaliation. In response to the ruling, the Commission promised regularly to evaluate scientific data on hormone use. Talks between Brussels and Washington on beef are ongoing. The EU has offered compensation in the form of increased duty-free access for US meat free of hormones. Under current arrangements, US and Canadian producers can export 11,500 tonnes a year duty-free to the 15-nation EU. “We would prefer a switch from sanctions to compensation. There are ongoing technical talks and we shall see what they deliver,” Commission spokesman Anthony Gooch told journalists. The EU executive decided in February to end extra testing of US hormone-free beef for residues due to growing confidence that the meat exported as such contained no banned substances.