Keep your oestrogen under control An oestrogen guide for men

Men should know their oestrogen levels

Every adult man should know what his oestrogen levels are. Your health, your appearance, your emotional well-being and your ability to conceive may depend on it. In fact, your life could depend on knowing if your estrogen levels are too high or too low.

Oestrogen and testosterone are closely linked

Testosterone gets most of the attention in men, while estrogen gets most of the attention in women, but estrogen is just as important to men as testosterone in many ways. And even though these two hormones are considered the yin and yang of human sexual behavior and development, they are very similar on a molecular level.

You could put these two molecules right next to each other and they would look virtually identical except for the fact that testosterone has an extra carbon atom. And this similarity is one reason why some men have high estrogen levels. Because the testosterone molecule is so similar to oestrogen on a molecular level, it is very easy for the aromatase enzyme to separate the extra carbon atom and convert testosterone into oestrogen.

In principle, this is a good thing, as men also need a certain amount of oestrogen. Not only does estrogen have myriad effects on your health, but it is also part of an elegant feedback system that signals the testes via the pituitary gland to reduce testosterone production when estrogen levels get too high. In this way, this system ensures that the right amounts of testosterone and oestrogen are always circulating in the body.

Sometimes, however, too much testosterone is converted into oestrogen. Combined with the low levels of oestrogen produced in the testes, adrenal glands, brain and adipose tissue, this can cause a hormonal maelstrom of problems. The feedback loop kinks, estrogen levels remain continuously elevated and this signals the testes to produce less testosterone.

However, there are plenty of other ways in which excessive increases in testosterone levels can occur, and although not often talked about, low estrogen levels can sometimes be even more of a problem than high estrogen levels. Ultimately, estrogen levels should always be in the hormonal comfort zone - not too high, not too low, but just in the right range.

What problems can too high oestrogen levels cause?

As soon as oestrogen levels rise uncontrollably, the risk of degenerative diseases skyrockets. The risk of stroke increases. The risk of type II diabetes increases. Emotional disorders occur more frequently. The risk of prostate cancer increases.

Erectile function suffers. Waist circumference increases. It becomes harder to build muscle. And, worst of all, high oestrogen levels significantly increase the overall risk of death.

When scientists studied the estrogen levels of 501 men with chronic heart failure, men with normal estradiol levels (the "most potent" form of estrogen) in the range of 21.80 pg/mL to 30.11 pg/mL had the fewest deaths over the three-year study period. Men with the highest levels (above 37.99) had 133% more deaths during the same period. However, the men with the lowest oestrogen levels (below 12.9) were even worse off, with 317% more deaths in this group.

So estrogen certainly plays an important role in heart health, in addition to its role in many other body systems.

Signs of high estrogen levels include:

• An increased amount of fat in the abdominal area
• A loss of muscle mass
• Low libido, reduced erectile function
• Fatigue
• An increase in fatty tissue in the nipple area
• Depression and emotional disorders
• Lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostate enlargement

Signs of low estrogen levels include:

• Usable erections but mediocre orgasms
• Joint discomfort
• Fatigue and depression
• Reduced emotions
• A possible weakening of the adrenal glands
• Anxiety
• Excessive jealousy
• Low blood pressure
• Excessive urge to urinate

Testing oestrogen levels

Regardless of age, it is in every man's interest to ensure that his estrogen levels are in the green zone. It is important to establish a baseline estrogen level against which to compare levels in subsequent years.

Here is a list of average estrogen levels by age from a study published in the journal Clinical Endocrinology:

• Age 2-29 years: 28.0 pg/mL
• Age 30-39 years: 25.7 pg/ml
• Age 40-49 years: 24.7 pg/ml
• Age 50-59 years: 22.1 pg/ml
• Age 60-69 years: 21.5 pg/ml
• Age 70-80 years: 21.9 pg/ml

There are different possible ways to accurately test estrogen levels - via a 24-hour urine test or via a blood test, with the blood test being the simpler. Saliva tests are now also available, which can be carried out without a doctor's visit.

In the case of a blood test, the more sensitive test for men should be used rather than the standard test, which is intended for women. In addition, some laboratories use immunoassay techniques to test blood samples, which have a variability rate of up to 53% compared to other methods. Such inaccurate results could lead to problems being treated that do not actually exist. For example, if supposedly high estrogen levels are treated when in fact they are in the normal range, the consequences can be catastrophic. Liquid chromatography or a mass spectrometer test should be used instead, as these tests are more accurate.

To complicate matters further, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) also plays a role in estrogen levels. As the name suggests, SHBG binds a certain percentage of sex hormones, including testosterone and oestrogen, making them inaccessible to the body.

With increasing age, SHBG levels rise and bind more hormones. As a result, even though estrogen levels may appear normal, free estrogen levels may be too low. Ideally, SHBG and estrogen blood levels should be in the mid-normal range to provide an accurate snapshot of the estrogen situation in the body.

What can cause high estrogen levels?

1 - Too much body fat

Fat contains the aromatase enzyme that converts testosterone into oestrogen. So the fatter you get, the more testosterone is converted into oestrogen, making you even fatter. This is a vicious cycle and the only way to break out of it is to get and stay lean.

2 - The natural ageing process

The older you get, the more aromatase enzyme your body produces and the higher your oestrogen levels will rise. This is the reason why the breasts of old men on the beach are often indistinguishable from the breasts of their old wives.

Of course, this age and oestrogen thing is not quite so clear-cut. Since SHBG levels also increase with age, which can cause some of the extra estrogen to be bound, one could also assume that old men have less free estrogen. In addition, age also brings with it a reduction in testosterone production, which may also lead to less oestrogen, as there is less starting material available to be converted into oestrogen.

These phenomena may partly explain why so many men with heart problems have either too high or too low estrogen levels.

3 - A faulty feedback mechanism

When estrogen levels are too high, this signals the testes via the pituitary gland to temporarily stop producing testosterone. However, if estrogen levels are continuously elevated, this can override the system and send the wrong signal to the testes to take a long vacation. This can lead to even higher estrogen levels.

4 - Testosterone replacement therapy

Millions of men are undergoing testosterone replacement therapy to revitalize their bodies and revive their flagging libidos. Unfortunately, many doctors have not done their homework. Injecting men - especially obese men - with too much testosterone can result in an unwanted amount of it being converted to estrogen. These elevated levels need to be addressed either by adjusting the testosterone dosage or by using an aromatase inhibitor.

5 - An impaired cytochrome P450 enzyme system

The P450 system is the system in which most active drug ingredients end up. In other words, the vast majority of all drugs, chemicals or supplements you take are processed and eliminated by the P450 system. This system is like a chemical recycling station where chemicals are broken down, repackaged and either reused or excreted.

The same system also eliminates estrogen from the body. However, certain things can interfere with this system. Too much alcohol can be a problem, as can obesity or a zinc deficiency. You may also be consuming foods or medications or supplements such as grapefruit juice or ginkgo biloba that interfere with the efficiency of the P450 system.

6 - Xenoestrogens

These are chemicals in our environment that mimic the effects of estrogen. These chemicals - mainly heavy metals, synthetic chemicals like DES and DDT, and industrial chemicals like phthalates are increasing in volume and accumulating in more body tissues with each passing year.

These chemicals can be found in food, adhesives, fire retardants, solvents, drinking water, perfumes, waxes, household cleaners, lubricants, etc.

Although we do not know the exact extent of the damage caused by these chemicals, there have been widespread reports of biological abnormalities in humans and animals (mutations, hermaphroditic sexual organs, reduced fertility, etc.) in recent decades.

In 1992, a team of reproductive specialists from Copenhagen reported that the average sperm count in industrialized countries has dropped by 50% since 1938 (which means you're probably only half the man your grandfather was).

What's more, there's plenty of evidence that these chemicals are a part of all of us. Scientists have found that 75% of samples taken from 400 adults contained significant levels of industrial xenoestrogens, while 98.3% of samples were found to contain DHT and its derivatives. To make matters worse, certain xenoestrogens appear to interact synergistically, amplifying their effects.

7 - Phytoestrogens

While xenoestrogens are man-made monstrosities, phytoestrogens are found in plants. Xenoestrogens accumulate in fatty tissue, while phytoestrogens are metabolized and soon excreted from the body. They are therefore not nearly as big a problem as xenoestrogens.

Nevertheless, you should not have too many phytoestrogens in your body, as they are similar to oestrogen on a molecular level and can also act like oestrogen. Phytoestrogens are found in various foods and probably most commonly in soy protein.

8 - Alcohol and marijuana

Yes, recreational drugs can also lead to elevated estrogen levels.

What can lead to low estrogen levels?

There are not many things that can cause low estrogen levels in men. One is advanced age with its accompanying low testosterone levels and elevated SHBG levels. This can be treated with testosterone replacement therapy.

Another reason for low estrogen levels is overuse of estrogen blockers and aromatase inhibitors. These drugs are prescribed by doctors and either prevent testosterone from being converted to estrogen or prevent estrogen from binding to the estrogen receptors in cells.

Of course, a man with low oestrogen levels may also be suffering from an as yet undiagnosed disease that is responsible for these low levels.

What can you do about high oestrogen levels?

1 - Nutrition

Many vegetables contain indole-3-carbinol, which reduces the effects of estrogen. These chemicals are found in useful amounts in broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage.

Calcium D-glutarate is also an effective fighter against estrogen, as it eliminates estrogen from the body before the body reabsorbs it. This active ingredient is found in grapefruit, apples, oranges and the aforementioned vegetables rich in indoles.

However, these fruits and vegetables alone cannot bring estrogen levels that have gotten out of control back into balance. At best, they can be seen as aids that can help to shift the amount of oestrogen metabolites in the right direction. In turn, you should avoid foods such as soy that can shift the amount of oestrogen metabolites in the other direction.

2 - Supplements

Because estrogen is such a big issue, the supplement industry has spent a lot of time researching this topic. Here are a few nutrients and compounds that seem to be the most effective when it comes to normalizing estrogen levels:

• Boron (reduces levels of free estrogen)
• Curcumin reduces the effect of the aromatase enzyme
• Fish oil - especially DHA - which reduces the number of oestrogen receptors
• Green tea extract appears to inhibit the aromatase enzyme
• Resveratrol reduces the activity of the aromatase enzyme
• Zinc reduces the activity of oestrogen receptors

3 - Pharmaceutical interventions

Aromatase inhibitors impair the ability of the aromatase enzyme to convert testosterone into estrogen.

There are two classes of aromatase inhibitors. The first class is known as "suicide inhibitors", which includes the active ingredient exemestane. These should be avoided as they are extremely potent and can easily reduce oestrogen levels too much. The second class is the class of so-called competitive inhibitors such as anastrozole and letrozole. Letrozole should probably be avoided as it is very potent and can easily be an overkill for correcting moderately elevated oestrogen levels.

This leaves the moderately effective anastrozole aka Arimidex, which is sufficient to significantly reduce oestrogen levels. This active ingredient should only be used if symptoms of increased oestrogen levels are present and dietary interventions and supplements have not helped. Of course, this active ingredient should only be used under medical supervision.

However, most men do not need an aromatase inhibitor as long as they are not undergoing testosterone replacement therapy and too much of the testosterone used is converted to oestrogen.

4 - Reduction of xenoestrogens

To significantly rid your environment of xenoestrogens, you would probably have to move to the woods and feed on organically grown mung bean sprouts. Apart from that, however, there are things you can do to make your life less estrogen-rich.

If you're meticulous, you can try to avoid the following chemicals:

• Alkylphenol
• Atrazine (a weedkiller)
• 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC) (used in sunscreen products)
• Butylated hydroxyanisole / BHA (a food preservative)
• Chlorine and chlorine by-products
• Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene
• DEHP (used to make PVC elastic)
• Dieldrin (an insecticide)
• DDT (an insecticide)
• Endosulfan (an insecticide)
• Erythrosine / FD&C Red No. 3
• Ethinyl estradiol (combined oral contraceptive pill)
• Heptachlor (an insecticide)
• Lindane / hexachlorocyclohexane (an insecticide)
• Metalloestrogens (a class of inorganic xenoestrogens)
• Methoxychlor (an insecticide)
• Nonylphenol and its derivatives
• Pentachlorophenol (a biocide and wood preservative)
• Polychlorinated biphenyls / PCBs (found in electrical oils, lubricants, adhesives and paint)
• Phenosulfothiazine (a red dye)
• Phthalates (plasticizers)
• Propyl gallate
• Parabens (methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben, which are often used as preservatives in personal care products)

Checking every label to see if the product contains one or more of the aforementioned chemicals can easily drive you mad. To make your life a little easier, you can do the following things whenever possible:

• Buy organic produce
• Store food in glass containers instead of plastic containers
• Remove plastic wrap before heating food in the microwave
• Use natural detergents and household cleaning products
• Use all-natural personal care products
• Avoid plastic whenever possible and don't drink from water bottles that have been in the sun for a long time

5 - Adjust your lifestyle

Your problems with estrogen could be related to drinking too much or too often, or smoking marijuana too often or too much. The simple solution to this is moderation. If you weigh too much (which in itself can increase estrogen levels), then do the obvious.

Take control of your estrogen levels

1. Get your estrogen levels tested
2. If your levels are normal, then use them as a reference for the following years.
3. If the levels are too high, check if you have symptoms of high estrogen levels. If the levels are too low, check if you have symptoms of low estrogen levels.
4. Address the problem using the solutions described above including lifestyle changes, dietary changes, supplements, avoidance of xenoestrogens and phytoestrogens, and medication under medical supervision.

Source: https://www.t-nation.com/living/keep-estrogen-under-control

From TC Luoma