What Women Need to Know About Estrogen Metabolites
Learn how to manage the risks posed by different estrogen metabolites
As you know, estrogen is the most important hormone in a woman’s body. But what you may not realize is that there is more than one kind of estrogen and that these different types of estrogen can be metabolized into still more compounds, sometimes with serious consequences for your health.
Types of Estrogen
There are three main types of naturally occurring estrogens in the body: estrone, estradiol, and estriol. Estradiol is the strongest form of estrogen, and it is responsible for the cell growth and renewal that occurs as part of the monthly cycle, as well as in numerous other parts of the body. Estriol is a weaker form of estrogen that helps balance the growth signals from estradiol and estrone.
Types of Estrogen Metabolites
When estrogens get broken down in the body, they turn into compounds called estrogen metabolites. Some of these metabolites, such as 2-hydroxyestrone, are considered “good” estrogen metabolites that can help control the cell growth triggered by estradiol. Others, such as 16alpha-hydroxyestrone, are considered “bad” estrogen metabolites that can contribute to cell processes that increase the risk of breast cancer. Numerous studies have shown a relationship between these metabolites and breast cancer risk—women with higher levels of 2-hydroxyestrone and lower levels of 16alpha-hydroxyestrone had lower risk, while those with higher 16alpha-hydroxyestrone and lower 2-hydroxyestrone had higher risk.
How to Protect Your Health
There are a variety of ways to help protect yourself against the risks posed by “bad” estrogen metabolites. If you have not yet gone through menopause, start exercising 30 minutes per day 5 times per week. Research has shown that exercise can increase the ratio of “good” estrogen metabolites to “bad” metabolites in premenopausal women.
If you are already experiencing menopause symptoms, you should consider hormone replacement therapy to help bring your body chemistry back into balance. Be sure to choose a treatment provider like Renew Youth™ that uses a compounded pharmacy to prescribe both estradiol and estriol. This will give you a more balanced treatment and help to prevent the unchecked cell growth that can result from high levels of “bad” estrogen metabolites.
Women of all ages can incorporate more cruciferous vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids into their diets to enjoy cancer-protective effects. Examples of cruciferous vegetables include cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and collards. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in foods like fish, poultry, eggs, and Renew Youth’s™ krill oil supplement.
To learn more about estrogen and estrogen therapy, please contact us at 800-859-7511.
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