Estronex Test Page of Optimal Health Medical, LLC's Web Site

Background Information about Hormones 

From birth, hormones influence the health, development, and nutritional status of women. During adulthood, hormones can play a role in cancer etiology.

Estrogen hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is widely used to prevent the post-menopausal accelerated loss of bone and other aging factors. Recently, the health risks and benefits of HRT have become controversial and newsworthy. However, the potential cancer causing effects of estrogen have dampened the enthusiasm about HRT. Moreover, studies of estrogen-sensitive cancers have highlighted the importance of an individual's estrogen metabolism.

Some Results of Estrogen-related Testing Studies

Considerable work has shown that testing for the urinary levels of 2-hydroxyestrone and 16a-hydroxyestrone provides valuable insight regarding patient risk. For example, 2-hydroxyestrone exerts a modest anti-estrogenic effect, and has been called "the good estrogen." Conversely, women with breast and endometrial cancers have marked elevation of the 16a-hydroxylation compounds which are a significant risk factor for such estrogen-dependent tumors.

Here's the main point: The Estronex Urinary Estrogen Analysis provides this information for the clinician and the patient.

Major Points to Cover with Patients for Cancer Prevention

* Encourage all patients with family history of breast cancer to monitor their estrogen metabolism.

* Encourage patients an HRT and oral birth control to monitor their estrogen metabolism.

* Encourage patients to limit alcohol consumption and to quit smoking.

* Recommend regular exercise. Recommend weight reduction for obese patients.

Encourage extended duration of lactation.

Encourage adequate intake of antioxidant vitamins, fish or fish oil, flaxseed, and brassica vegetables.

Interventions Counteracting Negative Estrogenic Effects

Soy isoflavones (daidzein and genisten) are natural compounds that decrease the production of 16a-hydroxyeestrone.

Indole-3-Carbinol results in decreased concentrations of several metabolites known to activate the estrogen receptor. One to two servings of brassica vegetables a day can lower breast cancer risk.

Flaxseed supplementation can increase the urinary 2/16 ratio, suggesting a protective effect. Also, the long-chain omega-3 oils from fish, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have also been shown to be protective against breast cancer.

Disclaimer

The information provided on this Web site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Consult your physician or health care provider before taking any action that could affect your health.

If you would like to consult our office and have this test done, call us at 203-348-8805 or E-mail us at optimalhealth@optonline.net.