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Home > Health
Conditions
> Aromatization
Aromatization/Gynecomastia
Related Topics:
Prescription aromatase inhibitors:
The Really Important Stuff:
-
Anastrozole (Arimidex) - anabolic-androgenic-steroids.com -
"Anastrozole
(Arimidex) is the aromatase inhibitor of choice ...With moderate doses
of testosterone 0.5 mg/day is usually sufficient and in some cases may be
too much" - Femara
(letrozole) may not have been available at the time this article was
written.
- Chrysin: Is It An Effective
Aromatase Inhibitor? - vrp.com - "Unfortunately,
there does not appear to be any effective natural inhibitor of aromatase"
-
Arimidex vs. Femara for increasing testosterone in men (HRT) - hrt-rx.com
-
Aromatase Inhibition Offers Little Benefit, Possible Harm to Men With Lo...
- Medscape, 12/22/09 - "The inescapable conclusion from
these data is that the 50% increase in testosterone levels was trumped by the
much more modest 20% reduction in estradiol levels, leading to negative skeletal
effects of anastrozole therapy in aging men" - Note: I'm not sure
that thought this though thoroughly. Mortally in men is best when estrogen
is around 25pg/mL. I suspect that most have higher estrogen than that.
See:
-
High, Low Estradiol Levels and Mortality in Men With Systolic HF -
Medscape, 5/19/09 - "Both low and high serum levels
of estradiol, compared with mid-range levels, are significantly and
independently associated with increased all-cause mortality in men with
chronic systolic heart failure"
Serum Estradiol Concentration Quintiles as Predictors of All-Cause Mortality
in Men (With Quintile 3 as the Reference Group)
| Parameter |
Quintile 1 |
Quintile 2 |
Quintile 3 |
Quintile 4 |
Quintile 5 |
| Estradiol concentration (pg/mL) |
<12.903 |
12.90–21.79 |
21.80–30.11 |
30.12–37.39 |
>37.40 |
| 3-y survival* (%) |
44.6 |
65.8 |
82.4 |
79.0 |
63.6 |
| Quintile as mortality predictor,* HR (95% CI) vs quintile 3 |
4.17 (2.33–7.45) |
2.15 (1.16–3.99) |
-- |
1.22 (0.64–2.31) |
2.33 (1.30–4.18) |
HR= hazard ratio
-
High, Low Estradiol Levels and Mortality in Men With Systolic HF -
Medscape, 5/19/09 - "Both low and high serum levels
of estradiol, compared with mid-range levels, are significantly and
independently associated with increased all-cause mortality in men with
chronic systolic heart failure" - Note: See
my aromatization page for ways to reduce
it. I take a quarter tablet of
letrozole every day.
See
letrozole at OffshoreRx1.com
 .
Serum Estradiol Concentration Quintiles as Predictors of All-Cause Mortality
in Men (With Quintile 3 as the Reference Group)
| Parameter |
Quintile 1 |
Quintile 2 |
Quintile 3 |
Quintile 4 |
Quintile 5 |
| Estradiol concentration (pg/mL) |
<12.903 |
12.90–21.79 |
21.80–30.11 |
30.12–37.39 |
>37.40 |
| 3-y survival* (%) |
44.6 |
65.8 |
82.4 |
79.0 |
63.6 |
| Quintile as mortality predictor,* HR (95% CI) vs quintile 3 |
4.17 (2.33–7.45) |
2.15 (1.16–3.99) |
-- |
1.22 (0.64–2.31) |
2.33 (1.30–4.18) |
HR= hazard ratio
-
Letrozole once a week normalizes serum testosterone in obesity-related male
hypogonadism - Eur J Endocrinol. 2008 May;158(5):741-7 -
"Isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) is
frequently observed in severely obese men, probably as a result of increased
estradiol (E(2)) production and E(2)-mediated negative feedback on pituitary
LH secretion. Aromatase inhibitors can reverse this process ... treated with
2.5 mg letrozole once a week for 6 months ... Six weeks of treatment reduced
total E(2) from 123+/-11 to 58+/-7 pmol/l (P<0.001, mean+/-s.e.m.), and
increased serum LH from 4.4+/-0.6 to 11.1+/-1.5 U/l (P<0.001). Total
testosterone rose from 5.9+/-0.5 to 19.6+/-1.4 nmol/l (P<0.001), and free
testosterone from 163+/-13 to 604+/-50 pmol/l (P<0.001). Total testosterone
rose to within the normal range in all subjects, whereas free testosterone
rose to supraphysiological levels in 7 out of 12 men ... Letrozole 2.5 mg
once a week produced a sustained normalization of serum total testosterone
in obese men with IHH. However, free testosterone frequently rose to
supraphysiological levels. Therefore, a starting dose <2.5 mg once a week is
recommended" - See
Femara (letrozole) at OffshoreRX.
I've been taking a quarter table a day but it sounds like that's way to much
an a quarter tablet every other day might be best which comes to 2.5 mg
every 8 days. People complain about the hassle to get doctors to prescribe
testosterone. It sounds like letrozole will give you the same or better
numbers without the hassle. Plus testosterone replacement increases
estrogen but letrozole has the advantage of decreasing it. See my
aromatization page.
-
Long-term
Consequences of the Aromatase Inhibitors - Medscape, 11/16/05 -
"The "short-term toxicities," such as vasomotor
symptoms, venothromboemboli, and gynecologic complications, favor the use of
AIs. However, long-term bone loss, altered lipid profiles, and possible
compromise in sexual functioning appear to be adversely affected by the AIs"
-
Letrozole normalizes serum testosterone in severely obese men with
hypogonadotropic hypogonadism - Diabetes Obes Metab. 2005 May;7(3):211-5
- "Six weeks of treatment decreased serum estradiol
from 120 +/- 20 to 70 +/- 9 pmol/l (p = 0.006). None of the subjects
developed an estradiol level of less than 40 pmol/l. LH increased from 4.5
+/- 0.8 to 14.8 +/- 2.3 U/l (p < 0.001). Total testosterone rose from 7.5
+/- 1.0 to 23.8 +/- 3.0 nmol/l (p < 0.001) without a concomitant change in
sex hormone-binding globulin level. Those treated with Letrozole 17.5 mg per
week had an excessive LH response" - Note: A half tablet per day
would be 8.75 mg/week. I believe 40 pmol/l of estradiol is
11.54
pg/mL and the normal value for men is
10 to 52 pg/mL (Quest
says
10 to 50). The way I read that, testosterone tripled. I take a half
tablet a day of
Femara (letrozole).
See Femara at
International Anti-aging Systems
or Letrozole at
OffshoreRx1.com.
- Can Broccoli
Prevent Lupus? - WebMD, 11/6/03 -
"I3C is believed to act as
an anti-estrogen ... I3C-fed mice had far fewer kidney problems than the
mice whose diets were not supplemented, and researchers say this is the
reason that they lived much longer. Kidney disease is one of the main,
life-threatening complications of lupus" - See
iHerb I3C products.
-
Why
Testosterone Levels Decline - Life Extension Magazine, 11/99 -
"Clinical studies using testosterone injections,
creams, or patches have often failed to provide a long-lasting,
libido-enhancing effect in aging men (98). We now know why. The testosterone
can be converted to estrogen. The estrogen is then taken up by testosterone
receptor sites in cells throughout the body. When an estrogen molecule
occupies a testosterone receptor site on a cell membrane, it blocks the
ability of serum testosterone to induce a healthy hormonal signal. It does
not matter how much serum free testosterone is available if excess estrogen
is competing for the same cellular receptor sites"
-
Correcting A Hormone Imbalance - Life Extension Magazine, 11/99 -
"If all of the above fail to increase free
testosterone and lower excess estradiol, then ask your doctor to prescribe
the potent aromatase inhibiting drug Arimidex (anastrozole) in the very low
dose of one-half (0.5 mg) mg, twice a week"
-
Androgel prescribing information - androgel.com -
"Serum estradiol (E2) concentrations increased
significantly within 30 days of starting treatment with AndroGel® 5 or 10
G/day and remained elevated throughout the treatment period but remained
within the normal range for eugonadal men" - Yeah, but what if you
are taking DHEA and what about
testosterone/estrogen ratios. See:
-
Biotransformation of oral dehydroepiandrosterone in elderly men:
significant increase in circulating estrogens - J Clin Endocrinol
Metab 1999 Jun;84(6):2170-6 -
"Serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone
remained unchanged after DHEA administration. In contrast,
17beta-estradiol and estrone significantly increased in a dose-dependent
manner to concentrations still within the upper normal range for men
[placebo vs. 50 mg DHEA vs. 100 mg DHEA; AUC 0-12 h for
17beta-estradiol, 510 +/- 198 vs. 635 +/- 156 vs. 700 +/- 209 pmol/L x h
(P < 0.0001); AUC 0-12 h for estrone, 1443 +/- 269 vs. 2537 +/- 434 vs.
3254 +/- 671 pmol/L x h (P < 0.0001)]"
-
Estrogen: The Unrecognized Male Hormone - IAS
-
Testosterone Deficiency & Depression, Does DHEA Raise the Levels of
Bioavailable Testosterone in Men? - Life Extension Magazine, 8/02 -
"Some men on testosterone drug replacement therapy
develop dangerously high estrogen levels. Estrogen can be suppressed by
taking an aromatase-inhibiting drug like Arimidex (0.5 mg twice a week) or
using a supplement like Super Mira Forte (six capsules daily)"
- See
Arimidex at
International Anti-aging Systems.
-
Biotransformation of oral dehydroepiandrosterone in elderly men: significant
increase in circulating estrogens - J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1999
Jun;84(6):2170-6 -
"Serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone remained
unchanged after DHEA administration. In contrast,
17beta-estradiol and estrone significantly increased in a dose-dependent
manner to concentrations still within the upper normal range for men
[placebo vs. 50 mg DHEA vs. 100 mg DHEA; AUC 0-12 h for 17beta-estradiol,
510 +/- 198 vs. 635 +/- 156 vs. 700 +/- 209 pmol/L x h (P < 0.0001); AUC
0-12 h for estrone, 1443 +/- 269 vs. 2537 +/- 434 vs. 3254 +/- 671 pmol/L x
h (P < 0.0001)]" - That's a 40% increase in the bad estrogen! On top
of that, if you are taking testosterone,
that increases estrogen also.
-
Aromatase Inhibition Corrects Endocrinopathy In Infertile Men - Doctor's
Guide, 4/9/01 -
"investigators found that men with severe
infertility had significantly lower testosterone (328 versus 543 ng/dl) and
significantly higher oestradiol (58.4 versus 43.5 ng/l) than the fertile
controls. As a result, the infertile men had much lower
testosterone-to-oestradiol ratios ... These abnormalities were corrected in
the 45 men who received testolactone and their testosterone-to-oestradiol
ratios rose into the normal range"
-
Evidence of a Treatable Endocrinopathy in Infertile Men - J. of Urology,
3/01 -
"We identified an endocrinopathy in men with severe
male factor infertility that is characterized by a decreased serum
testosterone-to-estradiol ratio. This ratio can be corrected by aromatase
inhibition, resulting in a significant improvement in semen parameters in
oligospermic patients"
-
Replenish Testosterone Naturally - Life Extension Magazine, 1/00 -
"Through a variety of mechanisms, aging men suffer
from the dual effects of having too little testosterone and excess estrogen.
The result is a testosterone/ estrogen imbalance that can severely inhibit
sexual desire and performance ... Too much estrogen plays havoc with a man's
sex life by binding to testosterone receptor sites and may contribute to the
over-production of SHBG. SHBG binds free testosterone in a way that makes it
unavailable to receptor sites in the brain, nerves and genitals."
-
Estrogen suppression in males: metabolic effects - J Clin Endocrinol
Metab. 2001 Apr;86(4):1836-8 -
"First, a dose-response study of 12 males (mean age,
16.1 +/- 0.3 yr) was conducted, and blood withdrawn at baseline and after 10
days of oral Arimidex
given as two different doses (either 0.5 or 1 mg) in random order with a
14-day washout in between. A sensitive estradiol (E2) assay showed an
approximately 50% decrease in E2 concentrations with either of the two doses
... There was a 58% increase in serum T"
-
Male Hormone
Modulation Therapy - Life Extension Magazine, 11/99 -
"One cause of hormone imbalance in men is that their
testosterone is increasingly converted to estrogen. One report showed that
estrogen levels of the average 54-year-old man are higher than those of the
average 59-year-old woman . . . . High levels of estrogen have been
implicated as a cause of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)"
- Arimidex -
Rxlist.com -
"ARIMIDEX 1 mg, reduced estradiol by approximately
70% within 24 hours and by approximately 80% after 14 days of daily dosing"
News & Research:
-
Increased Morbidity in Males
Diagnosed with Gynecomastia: A nationwide register-based cohort study - J
Clin Endocrinol Metab 2023 Jan 31 - "A total of 16,253
(69.4%) males in the cohort were identified with idiopathic gynecomastia. These
males had a statistically significant higher risk of future disease across all
included disease chapters (HR range: 1.19 to 1.89), with endocrine diseases
representing the greatest disease risk (HR 1.89, 95% CI: 1.76 to 2.03). The
highest sub-chapter disease risk was observed for disorders of endocrine glands
(OR 7.27, 95% CI: 6.19 to 8.54). Similarly, the odds ratios of comorbidities
were higher across all included disease chapters (OR range 1.05 to 1.51), except
for psychiatric disease (OR 0.72, 95% CI: 0.68 to 0.78), with the highest
association with musculoskeletal/connective tissue (OR 1.51, 95% CI: 1.46 to
1.57) and circulatory (OR 1.36, 95% CI: 1.29 to 1.43) diseases" - Note: High
SHBG is a cause of gynecomastia and also has about the same mortality rate.
Connection?
-
Effect of Estradiol on
Penile Erection - Medscape, 2/10/20 - "Our data indicate that estradiol
inhibits penile erection, particularly at the penile base. Also, when the
effective erection time of the penile base lasts longer than 10 min, estradiol
has a more obvious inhibitory effect on penile base erection"
-
Letrozole normalizes serum testosterone in severely obese men with
hypogonadotropic hypogonadism - Diabetes Obes Metab. 2005 May;7(3):211-5
- "Six weeks of treatment decreased serum estradiol
from 120 +/- 20 to 70 +/- 9 pmol/l (p = 0.006). None of the subjects
developed an estradiol level of less than 40 pmol/l. LH increased from 4.5
+/- 0.8 to 14.8 +/- 2.3 U/l (p < 0.001). Total testosterone rose from 7.5
+/- 1.0 to 23.8 +/- 3.0 nmol/l (p < 0.001) without a concomitant change in
sex hormone-binding globulin level. Those treated with
Letrozole 17.5 mg per
week had an excessive LH response" - See
letrozole at
inhousepharmacy.vu.
-
Letrozole once a week
normalizes serum testosterone in obesity-related male hypogonadism - Eur
J Endocrinol. 2008 May;158(5):741-7 -
"Isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) is
frequently observed in severely obese men, probably as a result of increased
estradiol (E(2)) production and E(2)-mediated negative feedback on pituitary
LH secretion. Aromatase inhibitors can reverse this process ... treated with
2.5 mg letrozole once a week for 6 months ... Six weeks of treatment reduced
total E(2) from 123+/-11 to 58+/-7 pmol/l (P<0.001, mean+/-s.e.m.), and
increased serum LH from 4.4+/-0.6 to 11.1+/-1.5 U/l (P<0.001). Total
testosterone rose from 5.9+/-0.5 to 19.6+/-1.4 nmol/l (P<0.001), and free
testosterone from 163+/-13 to 604+/-50 pmol/l (P<0.001). Total testosterone
rose to within the normal range in all subjects, whereas free testosterone
rose to supraphysiological levels in 7 out of 12 men ... Letrozole 2.5 mg
once a week produced a sustained normalization of serum total testosterone
in obese men with IHH. However, free testosterone frequently rose to
supraphysiological levels. Therefore, a starting dose <2.5 mg once a week is
recommended"
-
Comparative assessment in young and elderly men of the gonadotropin response
to aromatase inhibition - J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005
Oct;90(10):5717-22 - "As assessed after 28 d of
treatment, letrozole lowered E2 by 46% in the young men (P = 0.002) and 62%
in the elderly men (P < 0.001). In both age groups, letrozole, but not
placebo, significantly increased LH levels (339 and 323% in the young and
the elderly, respectively) and T (146 and 99%, respectively) (P value of
young vs. elderly was not significant). Under letrozole, peak LH response to
GnRH was 152 and 52% increase from baseline in young and older men,
respectively"
-
Risk of Gynecomastia with
Users of Proton Pump Inhibitors - Pharmacotherapy. 2019 Mar 13 -
"The crude
HR for PPI use compared to amoxicillin use was 1.70 (95% confidence interval
(CI): 1.461-1.976). The adjusted HR for the sensitivity analysis was 1.299 (95%
CI: 1.146-1.473). The adjusted HR was 1.4795 (95% CI: 1.2431-1.7609) for
patients over 50 years old and 1.324 (95% CI: 1.1133-1.5745) for patients 50
years old or younger"
-
Letrozole is a promising new treatment of male infertility - Science Daily,
3/7/14 - "Some recently published studies have suggested
that in men with obesity-related low testosterone, a low dose of letrozole can
normalize testosterone levels ... Doctors think obesity can cause infertility in
men because excess fat results in too much estrogen. The body's aromatase
enzyme, which is more prevalent in fat, converts androgens (male hormones, such
as testosterone) into estrogen. Letrozole inhibits this action of aromatase ...
The men received a 2.5-milligram letrozole pill every week"
-
Middle-Aged Men Can Blame Estrogen, Too - NYTimes.com, 9/11/13 -
"Estrogen, the female sex hormone, turns out to play a
much bigger role in men’s bodies than previously thought, and falling levels
contribute to their expanding waistlines just as they do in women’s"
- [WebMD]
[Abstract]
- Note: Here's the study they cite but something isn't making sense. It says
"the percentage of body fat increased in groups receiving placebo or 1.25 g or
2.5 g of testosterone daily without anastrozole". Anastrozole increases
testosterone and decreases estrogen yet they're saying that body fat increased
without the anastrozole implying that body fat decreased with the anastrozole
(more testosterone, less estrogen). See my
aromatization page. Personally I feel that
this study is doing to way too many things that affect the endocrine system that
makes the outcome suspect. It's disturbing how the media is taking off with it
like it's written in stone. For example, how do they know that suppressing all
those hormones at the beginning then artificially replacing some didn't also
alter others such as insulin, cortisol, the thyroid hormones, etc. which might
affect fat? Blaming it on estrogen seems like a long shot.
- Gonadal
Steroids and Body Composition, Strength, and Sexual Function in Men -
NEJM, 9/10/12 - "We provided 198 healthy men 20 to
50 years of age with goserelin acetate (to suppress endogenous testosterone
and estradiol) and randomly assigned them to receive a placebo gel or 1.25
g, 2.5 g, 5 g, or 10 g of testosterone gel daily for 16 weeks. Another 202
healthy men received goserelin acetate, placebo gel or testosterone gel, and
anastrozole (to suppress the conversion of testosterone to estradiol) ...
The percentage of body fat increased in groups receiving placebo or 1.25 g
or 2.5 g of testosterone daily without anastrozole (mean testosterone level,
44+/-13 ng per deciliter, 191+/-78 ng per deciliter, and 337+/-173 ng per
deciliter, respectively). Lean mass and thigh-muscle area decreased in men
receiving placebo and in those receiving 1.25 g of testosterone daily
without anastrozole ... The amount of testosterone required to maintain lean
mass, fat mass, strength, and sexual function varied widely in men. Androgen
deficiency accounted for decreases in lean mass, muscle size, and strength;
estrogen deficiency primarily accounted for increases in body fat; and both
contributed to the decline in sexual function"
- Letrozole
suppresses plasma estradiol and estrone sulphate more completely than
anastrozole in postmenopausal women with breast cancer - J Clin
Oncol. 2008 Apr 1;26(10):1671-6 - "Letrozole
reduces plasma E2 and E1S levels to a significantly greater extent than
anastrozole"
- Influence of
letrozole and anastrozole on total body aromatization and plasma
estrogen levels in postmenopausal breast cancer patients evaluated in a
randomized, cross-over study - J Clin Oncol. 2002 Feb 1;20(3):751-7
-
"estrone (E(1)), estradiol (E(2)), and estrone
sulfate (E(1)S) ... Treatment with anastrozole suppressed plasma levels
of E(1), E(2), and E(1)S by a mean of 81.0%, 84.9%, and 93.5%,
respectively, whereas treatment with letrozole caused a corresponding
decrease of 84.3%, 87.8% and 98.0%, respectively. The suppression of
E(1) and E(1)S was found to be significantly better during treatment
with letrozole compared with anastrozole"
-
Obesity
may influence heart function through sex hormones - Science Daily, 4/27/13 -
"suggests effects on heart function in healthy men with
artificially raised estrogen levels and artificially lowered testosterone levels
to mimic an obese state ... Estradiol, an estrogen, is primarily known as a
female hormone but it also circulates at very low levels in men. Testosterone is
converted to estradiol by the enzyme aromatase, the activity of which might be
increased in obesity leading to raised estradiol and reduced testosterone ...
The men with obesity-related changes in sex hormones exhibited altered heart
function ... We found that after increasing the estrogen levels and decreasing
the testosterone levels in men for one week the deformation of the left heart
chamber was significantly altered"
-
The
Inhibitory Effects of the Standardized Extracts of Ginkgo biloba on Aromatase
Activity in JEG-3 Human Choriocarcinoma Cells - Phytother Res. 2013 Jan 21 -
"There are many endocrine adjuvant therapies for breast
cancer patients that are categorized according to their mechanisms. Among them,
aromatase inhibitors (AIs) that block the synthesis of estrogens have proven
superiority compared with tamoxifen and have replaced it as a first-line
hormonal therapy. However, AIs also have limitations due to their side effects -
increased rate of bone loss and musculoskeletal complaints ... The extracts of
Ginkgo biloba (EGb), which contain phytochemicals from the tree, had biphasic
effects for estrogens and osteoporosis-inhibiting activities in our previous
experiments. In this study, we explored the possibility of EGb as an AI and
their mechanisms. Aromatase activities were inhibited by EGb both in JEG-3 cells
and in recombinant CYP19 microsomes ... From these results, we concluded that
EGb could act as an AI at both the enzyme and transcriptional levels" -
See
Ginkgo biloba at Amazon.com
 .
-
Age Trends
in Estradiol and Estrone Levels Measured Using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass
Spectrometry in Community-Dwelling Men of the Framingham Heart Study - J
Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2012 Oct 25 - "Estrone was
positively associated with smoking, BMI, and testosterone, and total and free
estradiol with diabetes, BMI, testosterone, and comorbid conditions;
additionally, free estradiol was associated negatively with smoking ... Men in
the highest quintile of estrone levels had significantly higher age and BMI, and
a higher prevalence of smoking, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease than
others, whereas those in the highest quintile of estradiol had higher BMI than
others ... Total estrone and estradiol levels in men, measured using liquid
chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, revealed significant age-related
increases that were only partially accounted for by cross-sectional differences
in BMI, diabetes status, and other comorbidities and health behaviors"
-
Higher
endogenous estrogen levels in 70-year-old women and men: an endogenous response
to counteract developing atherosclerosis? - Menopause. 2012 Sep 17 -
"Low androgen levels, high aromatase enzyme activity
(estrone [E1]/androstenedione and estradiol [E2]/testosterone), high E2/E1
ratio, and high estrogen levels (E1, E2, estriol, and E2/sex hormone-binding
globulin) were consistently associated (often significantly) with a more
unhealthy artery wall (thick intima, thin media, and high IMT ratio) in both
sexes. Consistently strong associations were found between the aromatase index
E2/testosterone and intima, media, and the IMT ratio. For IMT ratio, in both men
(rs = 0.52) and women (rs = 0.58), P was <0.001 for both and remained
significant after adjustment for cardiovascular disease risk factors and the
Framingham risk score (both P < 0.01)" - Note: I'm not a doctor but it
seems like taking a quarter tablet of letrozole every second or third day as I'm
doing would control this. See
letrozole at International Anti-aging Systems.
-
Reducing
the side effects of treatment for prostate cancer - Science Daily, 8/24/12 -
"tamoxifen reduced the risk of both gynecomastia and
breast pain at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of treatment compared to men who received
no treatment. Overall, treatment with tamoxifen was more successful in reducing
breast symptoms than treatment with an aromatase inhibitor (anastrazole) or
radiotherapy" - Note: They left out Femara (letrozole).
-
Drugs
for hair loss and benign prostatic hyperplasia may result in loss of libido,
erectile dysfunction in men - Science Daily, 1/11/11 -
"5a-reductase inhibitors (5a-RIs), while improving
urinary symptoms in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and
possible hair loss prevention, produces significant adverse effects in some
individuals including loss of libido, erectile dysfunction (ED), ejaculatory
dysfunction and potential depression" - Note: That goes back and forth.
One study claimed that finasteride improved sex after after six months of taking
it. Regarding gynaecomastia, if you're taking low dose letrozole to increase
testosterone and to prevent aromatization it many also help prevent
gynaecomastia.
-
Sex Hormones
and the Risk of Incident Prostate Cancer - Urology. 2010 May 6 -
"Serum testosterone, estradiol, estrone, and sex
hormone-binding globulin were assayed at baseline ... the mean age was 73 years.
Higher serum estrone was strongly related to an increased risk of prostate
cancer: compared with men in the lower quartile, the risk of prostate cancer
among those in the highest 3 quartiles (>24.9 pg/dL) was nearly 4-fold higher
(adjusted heart rate = 3.93, CI: 1.61-9.57). Other sex hormones were not
associated with the risk of prostate cancer" - The following results for
estrone are for women. I didn't find any results for men but see the
"For Aromatization (in males):" section on my letrozole page.
-
Letrozole
suppresses plasma estradiol and estrone sulphate more completely
than anastrozole in postmenopausal women with breast cancer - J
Clin Oncol. 2008 Apr 1;26(10):1671-6 -
"Letrozole reduces plasma E2 and E1S levels to a significantly
greater extent than anastrozole"
- Influence of
letrozole and anastrozole on total body aromatization and plasma estrogen
levels in postmenopausal breast cancer patients evaluated in a randomized,
cross-over study - J Clin Oncol. 2002 Feb 1;20(3):751-7 -
"estrone (E(1)), estradiol (E(2)), and estrone
sulfate (E(1)S) ... Treatment with anastrozole suppressed plasma levels of
E(1), E(2), and E(1)S by a mean of 81.0%, 84.9%, and 93.5%, respectively,
whereas treatment with letrozole caused a corresponding decrease of 84.3%,
87.8% and 98.0%, respectively. The suppression of E(1) and E(1)S was found
to be significantly better during treatment with letrozole compared with
anastrozole"
-
Aromatase
Explains Why Testosterone Increases Breast Cancer Rate - Cancer Epidemiol
Biomarkers Prev. 2009 May 12 - "All of this is
consistent with the increase in breast cancer observed in postmenopausal women
who had higher serum testosterone levels being due to the resulting increase in
the local level of estradiol in the breast tissue"
-
Obesity
Linked To Hormone Imbalance That Impacts Sexual Quality Of Life - Science
Daily, 3/3/09 - "In our study population, we found that
lower testosterone levels and diminished ratings for sexual quality of life were
correlated with increased BMI ... Subjects who lost weight through bariatric
surgery experienced a reduction in estradiol levels, an increase in testosterone
levels and an increase in ratings of sexual quality of life" - Another
way to increase testosterone and decrease estradiol is with
letrozole. I take a
quarter tablet every other day.
-
Short-term
aromatase inhibition: effects on glucose metabolism and serum leptin levels in
young and elderly men - Eur J Endocrinol. 2008 Dec 2 -
"Ten elderly and nine young healthy men were randomized
to receive letrozole 2.5 mg daily or placebo for 28 days in a crossover design.
Results: Both in young and elderly men, active treatment significantly increased
serum testosterone (+128 and +99%, resp.) and decreased estradiol levels (-41
and -62%, resp.). Fasting glucose and insulin levels decreased in young men
after active intervention (-7 and -37%, resp.) compared to placebo. Leptin
levels fell markedly in both age groups (-24 and -25%, resp.), while adiponectin
levels were not affected by the intervention. Lipid profile was slightly
impaired in both groups, with increasing LDL-cholesterol levels (+14%) in the
younger age group and 10% lower levels of ApoA1 in the elderly. A decline in
IGF-1 levels (-15%) was observed in the younger age group. No changes in weight
or BMI were observed in either young or old men" - Note: I take a
quarter tablet of letrozole every other day to prevent aromatization. See
letrozole at OffshoreRx1.com.
-
Sex
Hormones Link To Heart Risk - Science Daily, 8/31/08 -
"one of the sex hormones - estradiol - was
associated positively with total cholesterol and negatively with
HDL-cholesterol. Circulating concentrations of another sex hormone - estrone
- showed strong positive associations with both total cholesterol and
LDL-cholesterol ... Thus, men with the highest concentrations of estrone and
estradiol may have the highest level of cardiovascular risk as their levels
of detrimental LDL-cholesterol are high whilst their cardio-protective
HDL-cholesterol is low"
-
Letrozole suppresses plasma estradiol and estrone sulphate more completely
than anastrozole in postmenopausal women with breast cancer - J Clin
Oncol. 2008 Apr 1;26(10):1671-6 - "Letrozole reduces
plasma E2 and E1S levels to a significantly greater extent than anastrozole"
- See
Femara (letrozole) at OffshoreRX.
-
Male Breast Enlargement May Be Common - WebMD, 9/19/07 -
"Underlying the condition is an imbalance of
estrogen and testosterone. When estrogen levels get too high, the breasts
can begin to grow"
-
The red clover (Trifolium pratense) isoflavone biochanin A inhibits
aromatase activity and expression - Br J Nutr. 2007 Aug 29;:1-8 -
"Biochanin A is an isoflavone isolated from red
clover (Trifolium pratense) ... Isoflavones resemble the structure of
oestrogen, and display agonistic and antagonistic interactions with the
oestrogen receptor. Overexposure of oestrogen is a major contributing factor
in the development of breast cancer ... In the present study the effect of
biochanin A on the gene regulation and enzyme activity of aromatase was
investigated. By assaying MCF-7 cells stably transfected with CYP19,
biochanin A inhibited aromatase activity and hampered cell growth
attributing to the enzyme activity" - See
red clover at Amazon.com.
-
Management of
Gynaecomastia: An Update - Medscape, 8/7/07
-
Elevated Serum Estradiol Ups Stroke Risks - Physician's Weekly, 5/7/07 -
"High levels of serum estradiol may increase the
risk of stroke in elderly men"
-
High
Estrogen Levels Associated With Dementia In Older Men; No Association
Observed With Testosterone - Science Daily, 7/24/06 -
"Levels of bioavailable testosterone were not
associated with risk of cognitive decline and incident dementia," they
report. "In contrast, higher levels of bioavailable estradiol were
associated with an increased risk for cognitive decline and Alzheimer's
disease." For each standard deviation increase in estradiol level, the risk
for the disease went up by 25 percent" - I take a quarter tablet of
Femara (OffshoreRx1.com)
to keep estrogen low. - Ben
-
Drug
Combination May Slow Male Breast Cancer Growth - Science Daily, 7/7/06
- Five
Years on Anastrozole Can Promote Progression to Osteoporosis - Medscape,
6/12/06 - "Women taking
anastrozole also
had about a 40% increased risk of fractures while on the study ... At 5
years, women taking anastrozole lost 6.1% of BMD at the hip and 7.2% at the
spine ... women with a normal BMD at baseline did not develop osteoporosis"
- It's something to think about for men taking anastrozole for
aromatization.
-
Shrinking Male Breasts? - Dr. Weil, 4/12/06
-
Declining Estradiol Levels More Predictive of Fracture Risk Than Low
Testosterone in Aging Men - Doctor's Guide, 10/8/04 -
"While low levels of free testosterone are a
predictor of hip-bone loss, declines in estradiol levels play a stronger
role than testosterone"
-
New-Onset Depression Linked to Tamoxifen - Doctor's Guide, 5/25/03 -
"Results show a rate of new-onset depression of
17.82% in the
tamoxifen group and
14.34% in the no-tamoxifen group" - It seems like the same might be
true for men taking tamoxifen to prevent aromatization.
-
Procedure Removes Excess Breast Fat In Men - TheSanDiegoChannel.com,
5/14/03
-
Several Options Available for Androgen Replacement Therapy - Doctor's
Guide, 4/8/03 -
"Side effects of exogenous androgen therapies are
mood changes, polycythemia, gynecomastia, exacerbation of sleep apnea, and
in some patients, acne"
-
I
have read that Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C) actually increases the activity of
aromatase enzyme and that DIM does not - Life Extension Magazine, 3/01 -
"In one study, men received
I3C for one week; a profile of 13 estrogens was measured. The results
were that I3C significantly increased the urinary excretion of C-2
estrogens. The urinary concentrations of nearly all other estrogen
metabolites, including levels of estradiol, estrone, estriol and 16
alpha-hydroxyestrone, were lower after I3C treatment [J Natl Cancer Inst
1997 May 21;89(10):718-23]. On the other hand, studies have shown that
DIM can actually induce
aromatase activity with a two-fold increase [Toxicol Sci 2001
May;61(1):40-8]" - The following are the two references for that
statement:
-
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and Diindolylmethanes Differentially
Induce Cytochrome P450 1A1, 1B1, and 19 in H295R Human Adrenocortical
Carcinoma Cells - Toxicol Sci 2001 May;61(1):40-8 -
"DIM, but not TCDD, induced aromatase activity
with an apparently maximal 2-fold increase at 10 µM; higher
concentrations of DIM and many of its analogs were cytotoxic"
-
Changes in levels of urinary estrogen metabolites after oral indole-3-
carbinol treatment in humans - J Natl Cancer Inst 1997 May
21;89(10):718-23 -
"In both men and women, I3C significantly
increased the urinary excretion of C-2 estrogens. The urinary
concentrations of nearly all other estrogen metabolites, including
levels of estradiol, estrone, estriol, and 16alpha- hydroxyestrone, were
lower after I3C treatment"
- So if C-2 estrogens are increased, is that bad in men? I don't know.
The following are all I could find:
- Estrogen
Metabolism - immunacare.com -
"C-2 metabolites are essentially devoid of
peripheral biological activity, as shown in studies on uterine weight,
gonadotrophin secretion, and cell proliferation {1}. 2-Hydroxyestrogen
has even been found to exert a modest anti-estrogenic effect {2,3}, and
has been called "the good estrogen" {4}. The 16a-hydroxylated
metabolites, 16a-hydroxyestrone (16OHE1) and estriol (E3), are estrogen
agonists {5}."
-
Effects of Pesticides on the Ratio of 16/2-Hydroxyestrone: A Biologic
Marker of Breast Cancer Risk - Environmental Health Perspectives
103, Supplement 7, October 1995 -"Estradiol
metabolism proceeds by hydroxylation at one of two mutually exclusive
sites at C-2 and C-16. The catechol pathway yields the weakly estrogenic
2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1), which inhibits breast cell
proliferation" - If that means, and I think it does, that
the C-2 metabolites inhibit breast cell growth, that would definitely be
a good thing for men.
- Estrogen
- the Unrecognized Male Hormone - Rick Cohen, MD
- The
Cruciferous Choice: DIM or I3C? - Michael A. Zeligs, M.D. -
"It is well documented that estrogen accumulates in
the prostate gland starting at age 50 (42) and that estrogen is associated
with the degree of prostate enlargement ... Using DIM in men avoids
accelerating testosterone metabolism, especially regarding unwanted
conversion of testosterone into estrogen. In the safety study reported (11),
I3C and not DIM increased activity of "aromatase" (CYP19), the enzyme
responsible for converting testosterone into estrogen"
- Tamoxifen,
Raloxifene Prove Effective In Pre-Pubertal Gynecomastia - Doctor's
Guide, 7/12/01
-
Anti-Aromatase Agents Cost-Effective For Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer
- Doctor's Guide, 5/15/01
- Aromatase
Inhibition Does Not Interfere With Serum Lipids In Metastatic Breast Cancer
- Doctor's Guide, 5/14/01
-
Aromatase Inhibition Corrects Endocrinopathy In Infertile Men - Doctor's
Guide, 4/9/01 -
"investigators found that men with severe
infertility had significantly lower testosterone (328 versus 543 ng/dl) and
significantly higher oestradiol (58.4 versus 43.5 ng/l) than the fertile
controls. As a result, the infertile men had much lower
testosterone-to-oestradiol ratios ... These abnormalities were corrected in
the 45 men who received testolactone and their testosterone-to-oestradiol
ratios rose into the normal range"
-
Replenish Testosterone Naturally - Life Extension Magazine, 1/00
-
Evidence of a Treatable Endocrinopathy in Infertile Men - J. of Urology,
3/01 - "We identified an endocrinopathy in men with
severe male factor infertility that is characterized by a decreased serum
testosterone-to-estradiol ratio. This ratio can be corrected by aromatase
inhibition, resulting in a significant improvement in semen parameters in
oligospermic patients"
- Femara
(Letrozole) Significantly More Effective Than Tamoxifen In Treating Advanced
Breast Cancer - Doctor's Guide, 12/7/00
-
Diagnosis and Management of Male Breast Enlargement in Patients With
HIV/AIDS - Medscape, 12/00
- Aromasin
Now Available In US For Advanced Breast Cancer - Doctor's Guide, 1/24/00
-
Should
Aging Men Take Testosterone Drugs? - Life Extension Magazine, 11/99
-
Inhibition of aromatase activity by flavonoids - Arch Pharm Res. 1999
Jun;22(3):309-12 -
"Over 50% of the flavonoids significantly inhibited
aromatase activity, with greatest activity being demonstrated with apigenin
(IC50: 0.9 microg/mL), chrysin (IC50: 1.1 microg/mL), and hesperetin (IC50:
1.0 microg/mL)"
-
I3C/DIM - Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis Foundation
-
Flavonoid inhibition of aromatase enzyme activity in human preadipocytes
- J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 1993 Sep;46(3):381-8 -
"Chrysin, the most potent of the naturally-occurring
flavonoids, was similar in potency and effectiveness to AG, a pharmaceutical
aromatase inhibitor used clinically in cases of estrogen-dependent
carcinoma."
-
Inhibition of human estrogen synthetase (aromatase) by flavones -
Science. 1984 Sep 7;225(4666):1032-4
-
Testolactone (Teslac) - mesomorphosis.com
-
Mesterolone (Proviron) - mesomorphosis.com
-
Anastrozole (Arimidex) - anabolic-androgenic-steroids.com - "Anastrozole
(Arimidex) is the aromatase inhibitor of choice"
-
Anti-estrogens - mesomorphosis.com -
"The most commonly used aromatase inhibitor in
bodybuilding is aminoglutethimide (Cytadren)"
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