Holistic Gynecology Articles

The FDA has required a black box warning discussing the increased risks of heart disease, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and breast cancer in the labeling of all estrogen and combined estrogen plus progesterone products. This action was taken as a result of the analysis of the data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) that was published this past summer. The estrogen-progesterone arm of that study was cancelled 3 years prior to completion based upon a doubling in the risk of pulmonary emboli and deep vein thrombosis, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attack (MI), stroke and invasive breast cancer. The estrogen only arm of the study in continuing, and the study is to be completed in three year's time.

"American Heart Association (AHA)Endorses Fish Oil Supplements for Coronary Patients" 2003.

Previously the AHA had recommended that patients with documented coronary heart disease (CHD) should consume 1g of omega-3 fatty acids (the daily fish oil fix) from a 3-ounce serving of fatty fish per day. For the first time the AHA has recommended that these individuals can derive this necessary nutrient from a fish oil capsule. Fish oil capsules are widely marketed containing 180 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid and 120 mg of docosahexaenoic acid. To get the necessary amounts patients should take 3 pills per day. Since 1999 AHA's nutrition committee reported that 1g of omega-3 fatty acids can significantly reduce the incidence of new coronary events in patients who already have heart disease.

"Low Dose Estrogen Reduces the Risk of Heart Disease in Postmenopausal Women".

The latest results of the Nurses' Health Study have shown that postmenopausal women on low dose estrogen replacement either alone or in combination with progesterone reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (Ann. Intern. Med. 133(12):933-941, 2000). Earlier results from this study have shown that women on estrogen replacement (ERT) with no history of heart disease had an overall 40% reduction of the risk of developing heart disease compaired with women who never used estrogen.

"Ipriflavone Protects Against Bone Loss in Postmenopausal Women".

Several articles in the medical literature have shown the protective effect of Ipriflavone on bone mass during treatment with gonadotropin agonists (Gambacciani M., et al. in Calcif Tissue Int 1997;61-Suppl 1:S15-S18), in early menopause (Gennari C., et al. Menopause 1998;5:9-15),in postmeopausal women with reduced bone density (Gennari C., et al. in Calcif Tissue Int 1997;61-Suppl 1:S19-S22), and after oophrectomy (Gambacciani M., et al. in J Endocrinol Invest 1993;16:333-337).

"Estrogen Halts Atherosclerosis in Postmenopausal Women" American Heart Association Annual Meeting 2000.

Recently reported findings from Estrogen in the Prevention of Atherosclerosis Trial (EPAT) showed that estrogen replacement (ERT) decreased the risk of developing heart disease in women who started the ERT free of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Hodis, director of atherosclerosis research at USC in Los Angeles reported that the 111 postmenopausal women who took ERT for the 2 year study had lower progression of carotid wall thickness in contrast to the 111 untreated women. Thus halting the progression of atherosclerosis with estrogen replacement would be expected to decrease the incidence of cardiac disease.

"ERT Use In Menopausal Women May Protect Against Osteoarthritis" Endocrine Society Annual Meeting 2000.

A new study on 81 healthy postmenopausal women showed that those women who had been using estrogen replacement (ERT) for at least 5 years had more knee articular cartilage than nonusers. These results were reported by Dr. Susan R. Davis of Melbourne, Australia. This suggests that ERT may protect against osteoarthritis of the knees.

"Clover Isoflavones Protect Lumbar Bone Density" Endocrine Society Annual Meeting 2000.

Dr. Charlotte Atkinson of University of Cambridge (England) reported on the protective influence of 40 mg of red clover isoflavones on bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine taken for 1 year in pre- or premenopausal women. Apparently, this protective effect did not extend to postmenopausal women.

"Soy Appears To Decrease The Risk Of Breast Cancer" Recent meeting on breast cancer sponsored by the Department of Defense.

Exposure to estrogens is known to increase the risk of breast cancer. Daily ingestion of a supplement bar containing soy and phytoestrogens (plant derived estrogen) appears to decrease estrogen levels. "A biological mechanism proposed for this effect is that genistein, one of the phytoestrogens found in soy, inhibits aromatase, which is a critical enzyme in the production of estradiol (the most potent of human estrogens)", according to Dr. Margo Woods, D.Sc. of Tufts University in Boston.

"Soy Protein Lowers The Risk Of Heart Attack" The New England Journal of Medicine August 1995.

A summary of 38 studies on a total of 750 individuals revealed that a diet containing 47 grams of soy protein per day significantly reduced cholesterol levels by 9.3%, and reduced serum LDL (the bad "cholesterol" associated with heart attack) by 12.9%. In individuals who already had elevated cholesterol the reduction of cholesterol associated with eating soy was approximately 24%.

For every 1% reduction in cholesterol there is corresponding 2 to 3% reduction in the risk of a heart attack. Clearly, eating soy protein has the potential to reduce the risk of a heart attack by over 25%.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated these statements. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.