Published November 18, 2000 in the Campbell River Weekender
There are three estrogens in the male and female body called estradiol, estrone and estradiol.
Estradiol is the principal estrogen. It is considerably more potent and has been known for decades to be more carcinogenic.
Estradiol is metabolized into either 2 alpha hydroxyestrone or 16 alpha hydroxyestrone. If more 2 hydroxyestrone is made then less of the 16 hydroxyestrone is made.
If more of the 16 hydroxyestrone is made then less of the 2 hydroxyestrone is made. The good estrogens are the 2 hydroxyestrone (non carcinogenic and anticarcinogenic).
The bad are the 16 hydroxyestrone(more potent than estradiol itself, increases cellular growth and proliferation and even causes cancerous transformation in estrogen responsive tissues).
This is important information for breast cancer patients to know as the level of 2 hydroxyestrone can be increased with nutrition. The nutrient that increases this level is diendolmethane or DIM found in broccoli.
You would have to eat many pounds of broccoli a day to obtain this benefit, so a product was developed to make DIM incredibly soluble thus very well absorbed. Indole 3 carbinol is a very insoluble precursor for DIM and not nearly as effective as it can’t be absorbed in the intestinal tract.
DIM is also called Indolplex. It is being prescribed for breast cancer patients and for other cancers with a hormonal cause, such as prostate cancer (I will save this topic for another article), as well as other hormonally related conditions such as fibrocystic breast disease and uterine fibroids.
In the research it has been found that if there is an excess of 16 hydroxyestrone there is a tendency for this estrogen to cause tumor formation both benign and malignant, as well as DNA damage, abnormal cell behavior, and abnormal cell growth all precursors for cancerous cell growth. When DIM is taken the 2 hydroxyestrone levels rise, the 16 hydroxyestrone levels fall and symptoms improve. Women notice improvement in their energy, improvement of their moods, reduction of hot flashes, and reduction of menstrual and breast complaints. This may be due in part to the increase in the body’s natural progesterone production with the administration of DIM.
16 hydroxyestrone is elevated in obese women as well as women exposed to pesticides and environmental chemicals. DIM will lower this level as well as inducing the cancer cell to kill itself a process called apoptosis. DIM is also an antioxidant so it will protect against the aging process that occurs in the heart, brain, joints and nervous system.
Another important implication for DIM is that it makes taking prescription estrogens (such as estradiol) less risky. For instance, if a woman is on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for menopause or taking the birth control pill, DIM will reduce the negative side effects of these drugs by increasing the 2 hydroxyestrone type of estradiol. This may lower her risk of developing breast cancer as a result of taking HRT or birth control pills.
The ratio of 2 to 16 hydroxyestrone can be determined by a urine test done at Meridian Valley Labs in Washington State. This test is not yet available in Canada from MD’s but is available from Naturopathic Physicians. Please call the office for more details.
Any woman who has had breast cancer, or who may be at risk because she is on HRT, or who has a history of taking birth control pills for more than five years, would be well advised to consider adding DIM and calcium D-glucurate to her health care treatment plan for optimal health.
This information does not take the place of a medical consultation with your MD or ND nor is it meant for you to change your medical treatment program without consultation. References available upon request.
Dr. Pincott has been practicing naturopathic medicine for 15 years and is currently practicing in Campbell River. She can be reached at 286-3655 or www.DrPincott.com