Womens health Flashcards
What are the 3 main oestrogen’s?
Oestradiol, oestrone, oestriol
What is oestrogen’s main role?
increases growth of cells in place where there are many oestrogen receptors
What is aromatase for?
peripheral conversion of androgens to oestrone via aromatase
How is oestradiol transported?
sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in blood stream
What is progesterones role?
down regulate oestrogen receptors, inhibit oestrogen transcription, affect cellular adhesion, affect local oestrogen conversion, affect sulphating
How can we reduce oestrogen metabolites?
normal bowel flora prevents deconjugation of excreted oestrogen’s, use the 5R program, ensure liver detox is optimal, adequate fibre binds to conjugated oestrogens
What is a hormone disruptor?
exogenous agent interferes with production, release, transport, metabolism, binding, action or elimination
What food is high in oestrogen’s?
Dairy - processed milk
What should be avoided with any hormonal imbalance?
diary
What is diindolymethane (DIM)?
cruciferous indole that inhibits the conversion of oestrogen to 16-hydroxyestrone (a metabolite of oestrogen which has been linked to breast cancer)
What are phytoeostrogens?
plant-derived compounds similar in structure to oestradiol (E2) causing pro/anti-oestrogenic effects
What are some sources of phytoestrogens?
isoflavones (soya based food/legumes), prenylfavanoids - hops and beer, coumestans (split peas, pinto beans, lima beans) and lignans (flaxseeds, whole grains, fruit or vege, sesame seeds and legumes)
What is genistein?
phytoestrogen competes with oestrogen’s for occupancy of oestrogen receptors
How can hormones be balanced naturally?
increased fibre to clear metabolites, increase phytoestrogens, ensure adequate protein (metabolises oestrogen), increase brassica family (cruciferous vege, cancer protective), increases methylation abilities, increases probiotic food, avoid alcohol (interferes with liver detox which increases oestrogen levels)
What are some hormone disruptors that can be removed from diet?
clingfilm, soft plastic water bottles, diary, hormonal contraceptive use, soft plastic food containers, non-organic sources of meat, home chemicals
What nutrients reduce oestrogen metabolites?
vit B6 reduce oestrogen levels, zn and mg are cofactors for hormone production, DIM increases oestrogen clearance
What are the symptoms of PCOS?
amenorrhoa, hirsuitism, acne on face, obesity, infertility, acanthuses nigricans on the neck
What is PCOS?
abnormalities in metabolism of androgens and oestrogen’s; abnormal function of HPO axis
What investigation should be done for PCOS?
raise testosterone and androgens, LH high levels, low oestradiol, ovarian ultrasound (pearl necklace of cysts around ovary), increased prolactin, increase cholesterol, glucose and insulin levels
What are 5 possible causes of PCOS?
ovarian dysfunction (decreased oestradiol and androgens but increases oestrone), excess weight gain (fatty tissue causes increased conversion of androgens to oestrone), insulin resistance (causes increased androgens, TG and decreased HDL cholesterol), adrenal dysfunction (increases androgens), HPA axis dysfunction (abnormal GnRH causes increased LH and decreased FSH), genetic predisposition, leptin