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Progesterone and Men
Men also produce estrogen and estradiol (E2), but in much lower amount than women. Males also produce progesterone, but about half the amount from that of females. It is produced in the testes and in the adrenal glands. While the level of progesterone in the male is significantly lower than in the female, some women's progesterone levels fall below that of men of the same age during menopause.
The male hormone, testosterone, is an antagonist to estradiol (E2). Like progesterone, testosterone can stimulate new bone formation, increase bone density, and a lack of it causes osteoporosis. It is made from progesterone. Men normally continue to produce a relatively normal level of testosterone for their age and well into the seventies. Contrary to common perception, testosterone does not cause prostate cancer. Studies have shown that men with the highest level of testosterone have the least prostate enlargement. Conversely, men with the highest level of estrogen have enlarged prostates. Declining testosterone from aging, together with increasing levels of estrogen, is the most likely reason for prostate enlargement and cancer in men. Since progesterone has an antagonistic effect on estrogen, application of progesterone cream would indirectly enhance the effect of testosterone.
In addition to the use of progesterone cream to offset the negative effect of estrogen leading to increase testosterone level, using of zinc should be considered. Zinc inhibits the action of aromatase, an enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen. Of all the body's organs, the prostate has the highest level of zinc. Therefore, supplementation with 50mg of zinc one to two times a day enhances testosterone function.
Large doses of progesterone inhibit sexual behavior but physiological doses appear to enhance sexual drive. Clearly testosterone alone is not the only driver of sexual function in male or female.
Male Hormonal Imbalances
1. Testosterone deficiency in Men:
Symptoms: weight loss, lower stamina, enlarged breast, loss of muscle, lowered sex drive and fatigue.
Discussion: Commonly occurring to men over the age of fifty as part of andropause.
Solution:
· Special nutritional supplements such as zinc (50 mg twice a day until improvements are seen, then 50 mg once a day).
· Pro-hormone such as androstenedione or pregnenolone to stimulate testosterone production.
· Strength training exercises.
· Testosterone replacement therapy as indicated.
· Reduced weight/obesity has a direct effect on increasing estrogen built up in the body.
· Reduce alcohol consumption. Alcohol significantly inhibits the clearance of estrogen from the blood stream and also decreases zinc level. One or two drinks should be the maximum per day.
· Increase consumption of plant protein that contains phytoestrogen. Such phytoestrogen has only 1/500 the active effect of estradiol, the most active human estrogen. It acts competitively and block estrogen receptor sites in the body as well as stimulating the P450 system in the liver to metabolize estrogen more actively.
· Avoid grapefruit which has a tendency to inhibit the liver's breakdown of estrogen.
· Increase cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower that stimulate the burning-off of extra estrogen. Cruciferous extracts such as DIM can be considered as well.
· Reduce drugs that inhibit the P450 system and resulting in increased estrogen level. These include non steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs ( ibuprofen, diclofenac), aspirin, acetaminophen; certain antibiotics such as sulfas, tetracyclines, penicillins; cholesterol lowering drugs (Statins, lovastatin; heart medications such as propanolol, quinidine, methydopa and coumadin.
2. Excess estrogen in Men:
Symptoms: hair loss, prostate enlargement, irritability, headache and breast enlargement.
Solution: reduce estrogen in diet and male hormone replacement. Progesterone cream will act as antagonist of estrogen in the body. Apply 10 mg a day.
Progesterone and Prostate
The Prostate is the male equivalent of the female uterus. When prostate cells are exposed to estrogen, the cells proliferate and become cancerous. When progesterone or testosterone was added, cancer cell dies. During the aging process, progesterone level falls in men, especially after age 60. Interesting, progesterone is the chief inhibitor of an enzyme called 5 alpha reductase that is responsible for converting testosterone to di-hydrotestosterone (DHT), a much more potent derivative that is linked to prostate cancer. When the level of progesterone falls in men, the amount of conversion from testosterone to DHT increases. Unfortunately, DHT is not as powerful an inhibitor of cancer cells compared to testosterone. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer do not appear in men when the level of testosterone is high. Both conditions come 20 to 30 years after the onset of declining testosterone level associated with the aging process that commences in mid-twenties.
Testosterone is also an antagonist to estradiol. When the level of testosterone decreases, the relative level of estradiol in men increases. Estradiol, as we have seen earlier, turns on BCL2 oncogene and increases the risk of prostate cancer if an adequate amount of progesterone is not there to counteract its effect by stimulating the P53 cancer protection gene.
Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer in men. It is slow growing, with a doubling time of 5 years. Breast cancer is much more aggressive, with a doubling time of a few months. Dr. John Lee, Dr. Jesse Hanley and many other forward looking doctors now believe that excessive estrogen is a primary cause of prostate enlargement and prostate cancer. Numerous anecdotal reports of reduction of BPH and reversal of prostate cancer through the use of natural progesterone supplementation have been reported. It is apparent that progesterone protects the prostate gland.
PSA is a widely available prostate cancer marker. Studies have shown that PSA level returns to normal upon application of natural progesterone cream in before or after prostate surgery.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a prostate enlargement condition, is a common condition affecting the majority of males above age 50. Progesterone cream can help to reduce the prostate size. Progesterone's inhibitory effect on 5 alpha reductase is far more effective than Proscar and Saw Palmetto, which are standard agents, used in traditional and natural medicine to cure BPH. Concurrent use of progesterone cream can reduce the amount of saw palmetto needed to achieve the same effect.
All men over age 40 should consider natural progesterone replacement therapy, or even earlier if there is a history of prostate caner or BPH. The amount needed is 10 mg a day, approximately half that used in women. No rest day is needed and men should apply it on a daily basis.
One benefit is that there is a reasonable chance that natural progesterone supplement decreases male balding due to the corresponding rise in testosterone. More research is needed in this area.
Summary
Modern society has bought with it many external hormonal insults to our body. Such insults exhibit themselves in symptoms associated with menopause, PMS and pre-menopause symptoms. It is apparent that the common thread of these symptoms is often relative estrogen dominance rather than absolute estrogen deficiency traditionally thought of.
The vast majority of these symptoms can be avoided by lifestyle adjustments alone in many cases. These include stress reduction and comprehensive exercise program. Good nutrition can go a long ways to reduce estrogen in the body. Estrogen level can be lowered by calorie restriction, avoidance of sugar and refined carbohydrates, maintaining a high-fiber diet and supplementing with high-fiber products such as psyllium or rice bran. Intake of an optimum amount of antioxidants is needed together with the avoidance of environmental estrogenic toxin. Since the liver is where estrogen is metabolized, protecting the liver function with herbs such as milk thistle should be considered for those with impaired liver function. Supplementation with weak estrogens such as isoflavone, DIM, and selected herbs can be useful as well. Natural progesterone cream should be used as indicated to relief symptoms. The risk is extremely low in physiological doses. Most menopausal symptoms normally respond well with lifestyle changes and natural progesterone supplementation alone. If not, women may need very low dose natural estrogen supplementation for several years, which can then be gradually discontinued without recurrence of symptoms.
In men, progesterone has health enhancement effects, from increasing sex drive to prostate cancer prevention. Any male who is in the clinical phase of aging (above 45 years old) should consider using progesterone.
Progesterone supplementation is part of a total hormonal balance program and indeed an invaluable anti-aging tool when properly used. It is virtually free from side effects. When estrogen is required, the used of anti-carcinogenic estriol may reduces the cancer risk associated with estrogen treatment. The concurrent and judicious use of other hormones such as natural cortisol in case of adrenal stress, DHEA, pregnenolone, androstenedione, and melatonin should also be considered as part of an anti-aging total natural hormonal replacement program. Not to be forgotten are lifestyle factors that can enhance total body hormone and normalizes the important adrenal function.
These include:
· Avoidance of hydrogenated oils and most vegetable oils in the diet and use olive and canola oil instead.
· Eat whole, unprocessed food in accordance to the anti-aging food pyramid of 50% complex low glycemic carbohydrate, 25% protein preferably from plant sources and 25 % fat.
· Optimize nutritional supplementation with vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids, including 1000 to 3000 mg of vitamin C, 400 IU of vitamin E, 500 to 1000 mg of magnesium and 50 mg of vitamin B6.
· Drink at least 10 glasses of pure filtered water a day.
· Maintain a smooth and regular bowel movement with enzymes and probiotics as needed.
· Reduction of stress to normalize the adrenal gland.
· Avoid cigarette smoking, coffee and alcohol.
· Selected herbs that balance hormones can be considered for non pregnant women including dong quai or angelica, angelica anchangelica, fenugreek, unicorn root, sarsaparilla and licorice.
Message from Dr. Lam
I hope you have enjoyed reading this article. If you have areas you don’t understand, or if you have a specific health concern, feel free to write to me by clicking here.
About The Author
Michael Lam, M.D., M.P.H., A.B.A.A.M. is a specialist in Preventive and Anti-Aging Medicine. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University, and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine, California. He also holds a Masters of Public Health degree and is Board Certification in Anti-aging Medicine by the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine. He has authored numerous articles and the following books: The Five Proven Secrets to Longevity, How to Stay Young and Live Longer, Estrogen Dominance - Hormonal Imbalance of the 21st Century, and Beating Cancer with Natural Medicine.
Men also produce estrogen and estradiol (E2), but in much lower amount than women. Males also produce progesterone, but about half the amount from that of females. It is produced in the testes and in the adrenal glands. While the level of progesterone in the male is significantly lower than in the female, some women's progesterone levels fall below that of men of the same age during menopause.
The male hormone, testosterone, is an antagonist to estradiol (E2). Like progesterone, testosterone can stimulate new bone formation, increase bone density, and a lack of it causes osteoporosis. It is made from progesterone. Men normally continue to produce a relatively normal level of testosterone for their age and well into the seventies. Contrary to common perception, testosterone does not cause prostate cancer. Studies have shown that men with the highest level of testosterone have the least prostate enlargement. Conversely, men with the highest level of estrogen have enlarged prostates. Declining testosterone from aging, together with increasing levels of estrogen, is the most likely reason for prostate enlargement and cancer in men. Since progesterone has an antagonistic effect on estrogen, application of progesterone cream would indirectly enhance the effect of testosterone.
In addition to the use of progesterone cream to offset the negative effect of estrogen leading to increase testosterone level, using of zinc should be considered. Zinc inhibits the action of aromatase, an enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen. Of all the body's organs, the prostate has the highest level of zinc. Therefore, supplementation with 50mg of zinc one to two times a day enhances testosterone function.
Large doses of progesterone inhibit sexual behavior but physiological doses appear to enhance sexual drive. Clearly testosterone alone is not the only driver of sexual function in male or female.
Male Hormonal Imbalances
1. Testosterone deficiency in Men:
Symptoms: weight loss, lower stamina, enlarged breast, loss of muscle, lowered sex drive and fatigue.
Discussion: Commonly occurring to men over the age of fifty as part of andropause.
Solution:
· Special nutritional supplements such as zinc (50 mg twice a day until improvements are seen, then 50 mg once a day).
· Pro-hormone such as androstenedione or pregnenolone to stimulate testosterone production.
· Strength training exercises.
· Testosterone replacement therapy as indicated.
· Reduced weight/obesity has a direct effect on increasing estrogen built up in the body.
· Reduce alcohol consumption. Alcohol significantly inhibits the clearance of estrogen from the blood stream and also decreases zinc level. One or two drinks should be the maximum per day.
· Increase consumption of plant protein that contains phytoestrogen. Such phytoestrogen has only 1/500 the active effect of estradiol, the most active human estrogen. It acts competitively and block estrogen receptor sites in the body as well as stimulating the P450 system in the liver to metabolize estrogen more actively.
· Avoid grapefruit which has a tendency to inhibit the liver's breakdown of estrogen.
· Increase cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower that stimulate the burning-off of extra estrogen. Cruciferous extracts such as DIM can be considered as well.
· Reduce drugs that inhibit the P450 system and resulting in increased estrogen level. These include non steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs ( ibuprofen, diclofenac), aspirin, acetaminophen; certain antibiotics such as sulfas, tetracyclines, penicillins; cholesterol lowering drugs (Statins, lovastatin; heart medications such as propanolol, quinidine, methydopa and coumadin.
2. Excess estrogen in Men:
Symptoms: hair loss, prostate enlargement, irritability, headache and breast enlargement.
Solution: reduce estrogen in diet and male hormone replacement. Progesterone cream will act as antagonist of estrogen in the body. Apply 10 mg a day.
Progesterone and Prostate
The Prostate is the male equivalent of the female uterus. When prostate cells are exposed to estrogen, the cells proliferate and become cancerous. When progesterone or testosterone was added, cancer cell dies. During the aging process, progesterone level falls in men, especially after age 60. Interesting, progesterone is the chief inhibitor of an enzyme called 5 alpha reductase that is responsible for converting testosterone to di-hydrotestosterone (DHT), a much more potent derivative that is linked to prostate cancer. When the level of progesterone falls in men, the amount of conversion from testosterone to DHT increases. Unfortunately, DHT is not as powerful an inhibitor of cancer cells compared to testosterone. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer do not appear in men when the level of testosterone is high. Both conditions come 20 to 30 years after the onset of declining testosterone level associated with the aging process that commences in mid-twenties.
Testosterone is also an antagonist to estradiol. When the level of testosterone decreases, the relative level of estradiol in men increases. Estradiol, as we have seen earlier, turns on BCL2 oncogene and increases the risk of prostate cancer if an adequate amount of progesterone is not there to counteract its effect by stimulating the P53 cancer protection gene.
Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer in men. It is slow growing, with a doubling time of 5 years. Breast cancer is much more aggressive, with a doubling time of a few months. Dr. John Lee, Dr. Jesse Hanley and many other forward looking doctors now believe that excessive estrogen is a primary cause of prostate enlargement and prostate cancer. Numerous anecdotal reports of reduction of BPH and reversal of prostate cancer through the use of natural progesterone supplementation have been reported. It is apparent that progesterone protects the prostate gland.
PSA is a widely available prostate cancer marker. Studies have shown that PSA level returns to normal upon application of natural progesterone cream in before or after prostate surgery.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a prostate enlargement condition, is a common condition affecting the majority of males above age 50. Progesterone cream can help to reduce the prostate size. Progesterone's inhibitory effect on 5 alpha reductase is far more effective than Proscar and Saw Palmetto, which are standard agents, used in traditional and natural medicine to cure BPH. Concurrent use of progesterone cream can reduce the amount of saw palmetto needed to achieve the same effect.
All men over age 40 should consider natural progesterone replacement therapy, or even earlier if there is a history of prostate caner or BPH. The amount needed is 10 mg a day, approximately half that used in women. No rest day is needed and men should apply it on a daily basis.
One benefit is that there is a reasonable chance that natural progesterone supplement decreases male balding due to the corresponding rise in testosterone. More research is needed in this area.
Summary
Modern society has bought with it many external hormonal insults to our body. Such insults exhibit themselves in symptoms associated with menopause, PMS and pre-menopause symptoms. It is apparent that the common thread of these symptoms is often relative estrogen dominance rather than absolute estrogen deficiency traditionally thought of.
The vast majority of these symptoms can be avoided by lifestyle adjustments alone in many cases. These include stress reduction and comprehensive exercise program. Good nutrition can go a long ways to reduce estrogen in the body. Estrogen level can be lowered by calorie restriction, avoidance of sugar and refined carbohydrates, maintaining a high-fiber diet and supplementing with high-fiber products such as psyllium or rice bran. Intake of an optimum amount of antioxidants is needed together with the avoidance of environmental estrogenic toxin. Since the liver is where estrogen is metabolized, protecting the liver function with herbs such as milk thistle should be considered for those with impaired liver function. Supplementation with weak estrogens such as isoflavone, DIM, and selected herbs can be useful as well. Natural progesterone cream should be used as indicated to relief symptoms. The risk is extremely low in physiological doses. Most menopausal symptoms normally respond well with lifestyle changes and natural progesterone supplementation alone. If not, women may need very low dose natural estrogen supplementation for several years, which can then be gradually discontinued without recurrence of symptoms.
In men, progesterone has health enhancement effects, from increasing sex drive to prostate cancer prevention. Any male who is in the clinical phase of aging (above 45 years old) should consider using progesterone.
Progesterone supplementation is part of a total hormonal balance program and indeed an invaluable anti-aging tool when properly used. It is virtually free from side effects. When estrogen is required, the used of anti-carcinogenic estriol may reduces the cancer risk associated with estrogen treatment. The concurrent and judicious use of other hormones such as natural cortisol in case of adrenal stress, DHEA, pregnenolone, androstenedione, and melatonin should also be considered as part of an anti-aging total natural hormonal replacement program. Not to be forgotten are lifestyle factors that can enhance total body hormone and normalizes the important adrenal function.
These include:
· Avoidance of hydrogenated oils and most vegetable oils in the diet and use olive and canola oil instead.
· Eat whole, unprocessed food in accordance to the anti-aging food pyramid of 50% complex low glycemic carbohydrate, 25% protein preferably from plant sources and 25 % fat.
· Optimize nutritional supplementation with vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids, including 1000 to 3000 mg of vitamin C, 400 IU of vitamin E, 500 to 1000 mg of magnesium and 50 mg of vitamin B6.
· Drink at least 10 glasses of pure filtered water a day.
· Maintain a smooth and regular bowel movement with enzymes and probiotics as needed.
· Reduction of stress to normalize the adrenal gland.
· Avoid cigarette smoking, coffee and alcohol.
· Selected herbs that balance hormones can be considered for non pregnant women including dong quai or angelica, angelica anchangelica, fenugreek, unicorn root, sarsaparilla and licorice.
Message from Dr. Lam
I hope you have enjoyed reading this article. If you have areas you don’t understand, or if you have a specific health concern, feel free to write to me by clicking here.
About The Author
Michael Lam, M.D., M.P.H., A.B.A.A.M. is a specialist in Preventive and Anti-Aging Medicine. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University, and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine, California. He also holds a Masters of Public Health degree and is Board Certification in Anti-aging Medicine by the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine. He has authored numerous articles and the following books: The Five Proven Secrets to Longevity, How to Stay Young and Live Longer, Estrogen Dominance - Hormonal Imbalance of the 21st Century, and Beating Cancer with Natural Medicine.
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