Womens Health Flashcards
Name the 3 main oestrogens?
- Oestradiol - active form (main one)
- Oestrone - acrylic (high in people with PCOS)
- Oestroil - weak form for excretion (high in pregnancy)
State oestrogens main role?
Increase growth of cells in places where there are oestrogen receptors (proliferation).
What is aromatisation?
The peripheral conversation of androgens to oestrone
via aromatase.
What is aromatase and where is it found?
Phase 1 liver enzyme, CYP450 pathway enzyme
Brain, adipose tissue, placenta, blood vessels, skin, bone, endometrium. Also in tissue of endometriosis, breast cancer, uterine fibroids, endometrial cancer.
How is oestradiol transported?
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) in the blood stream.
Where is Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) made and when is it upregulated?
Made in the liver.
Upregulated when there is high free oestrogens and low testosterone.
Explain oestradiol’s secretion and levels throughout the menstrual cycle.
Ovaries secrete it after menstruation as FSH starts to develop the follicles.
Some is converted to weaker from oestrone - both stimulate growth.
Reach peak just before ovulation then stay stable until a drop just prior to menstruation.
Name the 3 metabolites oestradiol is converted to.
2-hydroxyestrone - healthy
4-hydroxyestrone - less healthy
16-hydroxyestrone - less healthy
Elevated levels of 4 and 16 associated with higher risk of breast cancer.
What would high homocysteine levels indicate in relation to methylation? What nutrients modulate methylation?
It would suggest less than optimal methylation.
B vitamins modulate methylation.
The conversion of oestrogen occurs in what pathway?
CYP450 pathway via CYP1A1 (2-OH), CYP1B1 (4-OH), CYP2C / 3A4 (16-OH).
This is the phase 1 pathway.
Phase 2 pathways do what to the oestrogen metabolites?
Covert them to a water-soluble molecule that is excreted via urine or bile.
Name the 3 ways phase 2 conjugation an occur.
Sulphation, Methylation and Glucuronidation.
What is Sulphration?
A phase 2 pathway which adds to the circulating oestrogen pool as the conjugated metabolite can be de-sulphated by sulphotransferase to be used again.
What is Methylation?
A phase 2 pathway which produces 2-methoxyoestrogen which has a protective quality.
What is Glucuronidation?
A phase 2 pathway which occurs via UGT.
Once glucuronidated the oestrogen metabolite is excreted via bile into small intestine.
What happens to the glucuronidated oestrogen metabolite during Glucuronidation in the presence of an imbalanced bowel flora?
The metabolite becomes de-conjugated and reabsorbed into enterohepatic circulation.
What will improve the excretion of oestrogens in the Glucuronidation pathway?
Symbiotic bacteria, calcium d-glucurate and fibre.
What eventually happens to all remaining oestrogens?
Pass through kidney where it is changed into oestriol (weak form) which is excreted in the urine.
What 3 places is Progesterone made?
- Adrenals - small amounts
- Ovaries - large amounts
- Placenta - massive amounts
Progesterone is a 21-carbon steroid, what is its main role?
Maintaining a healthy pregnancy.
Name 2 species of bacterial which can be helpful in the bowel flora to prevent de-conjugation of excreted oestrogens.
- Lactobacillus Acidophilus
2. Lactobacillus bifidobacterium
What 3 pathways in relation to liver detoxification should we make sure are working optimally to avoid de-conjugation of excreted oestrogens?
- CYP1A1 - increase with indole-3 carbinol
- Methylation - increase with B vits (5-MTHF, B12, B6)
- Glucoronidation - increase with calcium d-glucarate
Define a ‘hormone disruptor’.
An exogenous agent that interferes with the production, release, transport, metabolism, binding, transport or elimination or natural hormones in the body.
Name some of the most common hormone disruptors.
Bisphenol-A (BPA), fire retardants, lead, mercury.
Avoidance of what food category is crucial in any hormone imbalance condition and why?
Dairy. It contains insulin-like growth factors (ILGF) and oestrogens, although the amount is deemed ‘safe’ we shouldn’t add to the free circulation oestrogen load.
What is DIM and what does it do?
A cruciferous indole of 2 molecules of indole-3 carbinol bound together (safer and more potent than indole-3 carbinol). It inhibits the conversion of oestrone to 16-OH (the bad one).
Recommended therapeutic dose for DIM?
100-400mg per day.
Recommended therapeutic dose for indole-3 carbinol?
200-800mg per day.
What drugs is there a potential interaction between DIM and?
OCP and other oestrogen containing drugs.
How much DIM does 1/2 cup Brussels sprouts contain?
104mg.