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Q. HOW CAN HELPING ESTROGEN METABOLISM BENEFIT MEN? A. Everyone knows estrogen is an important hormone for reproduc on in women. What is not o en appreciated is that estrogen levels, though lower than those in women, are also essen al in men. However, midlife changes in men result in excess estrogen produc on beyond its minimal essen al level. Like perimenopausal women, men experience a tendency to gain weight in midlife. Rising estrogen produc on can result, since fat cells contain the aromatase enzyme that converts testosterone into estrogen. Unmetabolized estrogen creates a vicious cycle resul ng in further estrogen produc on. This occurs because fat is one source of more ac ve aromatase enzymes, causing further estrogen produc on and con nuing weight gain. An open label study of DIM in overweight men and women showed it promoted more efficient weight loss and more ac ve fat metabolism. In this regard, DIM is similar to green tea extract and spices like cayenne pepper. DiindolyImethane may have a role in helping to intervene with excess estrogen produc on associated with obesity and male aging. Besides weight gain, another aspect of early aging in men is prostate gland enlargement. It has been clearly established that estrogen accumulates in aging prostate glands at the same me enlargement occurs. This process is linked to difficulty with urina on and frequent urina on at night. The role of estrogen is s ll being established in this process, but research using estrogen binding substances shows lowering estrogen levels improves the symptoms of nigh me urina on. Use of absorbable DIM by men with these same symptoms has proven beneficial. Q. Can DIM help improve the safety of hormone replacement therapy (HRT)? A. Despite a growing list of benefits a ributed to estrogen, which include younger-looking skin, more comfortable sex, and be er memory, women o en view its poten al side effects as unacceptable. Study of postmenopausal women receiving long-term HRT with estrogen and estrogen/ progesterone combina ons has revealed an unequivocal increase in breast cancer risk. NOTE: These studies were done with Premarin, horse estrogens, and synthe c proges ns, NOT progesterone. Added concerns relate to the increase in the incidence of uterine cancer, and increased risk of life-threatening blood clots, especially a er bone fracture. Most recently, the na onwide HERS study reported the concerning finding that women with a history of heart disease had an increased risk of heart a ack in the first year a er star ng estrogen. Many of estrogen's risks can be related to a lack of its beneficial metabolites. It is now known that a lower risk of future breast cancer is associated with higher 2-hydroxy estrogen levels. Supplementa on with bioavailable DIM increases protec ve 2-hydroxy estrogen and therefore may reduce the risk of HRT-related cancer. Reduc on in the risk of abnormal blood clot forma on related to HRT estrogen would benefit women who suffer fractures while on HRT, but also may benefit women with early heart disease. It has been known since the Framingham Study in Massachuse s that men with the highest estradiol level had the highest risk of early heart a ack. DIM may help normalize the cardiac risk in both men and women related to unhealthy or underac ve estrogen metabolism. Also, the beneficial 2-hydroxy metabolites have been shown to be powerful an oxidants, which may contribute to protec ng against the early stages of atherosclerosis and subsequent heart a acks. Conclusion DIM supplementa on is a nutri onal approach to achieving a safer and healthier estrogen metabolism, or of protec ng it. Many of the benefits tradi onally ascribed to estrogen (protec on from heart disease, healthy skin, bones, and brain) may actually reside with its beneficial metabolites, the 2-hydroxy estrogens. DIM supplementa on is a natural promoter of this specific pathway of healthy estrogen metabolism. Abby's Magazine - Volume 5 Issue 2| Page 75