How well do you metabolize estrogen?
Breast cancer has become the second leading cause of death in American women. The chance of developing invasive breast cancer at some time in a woman’s life is about 1 in 8. While there may be many reasons for developing breast cancer estrogen is a main contributing factor.
How well does your body metabolize estrogen?
Finding out how your body metabolizes estrogen is a critical step in your plan to stay proactive and provides you with information to help prevent breast cancer.
Estrogens are known for their proliferative effects on tissues in the body which can result in tumors. It’s important to know how estrogens are being metabolized in your body. Estrogen is metabolized by the body into 2 main metabolites: 2-hydroxy (OH) and 16-alpha hydroxy (OH). 2OH estrogen is considered the “good estrogen”. It has even been found to have a modest anti-estrogenic effect. Elevated levels of 16-alpha OH estrogen are associated with a significant increase in risk for estrogen-dependent tumors. Women with breast and endometrial cancers were found to have marked elevations of 16-alpha OH.
Assessing the ratio between these two metabolites is important. A ratio of 2 or greater is considered optimal when evaluating the 2OH: 16-alpha OH ratio.
The Healthy Breasts Program includes:
- Lab test to find out how well you are metabolizing estrogen
- Review of the test findings
- Customized Plan to keep your breasts healthy
References:
Muti P, Bradlow HL, Micheli A, et al. Estrogen metabolism and risk of breast cancer: a prospective study of the 2:16alpha-hydroxyestrone ratio in pre-menopausal and postmenopausal women. Epidemiology. Nov 2000;11(6):635-640
Lord, Bralley. Estrogen Metabolism and the Diet-Cancer Connection: Rationale for Assessing the Ratio of Urinary Hydroxylated Estrogen Metabolites. Alt Med Review 2002 Volume 7, Number 2
American Cancer Society. www.cancer.org
