Description
The potential impact of estrogen on a person’s health and well-being is enormous.
Estrogen can exert a strong influence in diverse conditions such as:
• Breast cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Osteoporosis
• Heart disease
• Autoimmune disorders
Recent scientific advances into estrogen metabolism have shed new light on more
effective clinical interventions in estrogen-dependent conditions.
Estrogen Metabolism
Estrogen metabolites provide valuable clinical information regarding cancer risk. Two
significant metabolites that can be accurately assessed are 16 alpha-hydroxyestrone
(16 alpha-OHE1) and 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1).
• 16 alpha-OHE1 is a powerful metabolite that stimulates target tissues. Levels can rise in
response to obesity, alcohol consumption, and toxic exposure. High levels of this potent
metabolite are linked to increased risk and poorer prognosis in conditions linked to
estrogen excess such as breast cancer and lupus.
• 2-OHE1 is a metabolite that binds weakly to cell receptors and may slow cell proliferation.
Excessive levels of 2-OHE1 may increase the risk of osteoporosis in post-menopausal
women with low estrogen.
The ratio between 2-OHE1 and 16 alpha-OHE1 is the key to optimizing health.
Treatments that increase the 2:16 alpha-OHE1 ratio help to reduce the risk of estrogendependent
disease. Using this assessment, practitioners canmonitor the impact of dietary
intervention (flaxseed, soy products, cruciferous vegetables or derivatives like indole-3-carbinol
and diindolylmethane, omega-3 fatty acids) and exercise. The ratio also allows for accurate
monitoring of clinical safety and effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
The Estrogen Metabolism Assessment is designed for both premenopausal and
postmenopausal women. It can be performed using serum or urine. Serum sampling
provides a direct assessment of circulating estrogen metabolites. Urine testing offers
convenient, noninvasive sample collection.
