Evaluate
how estrogen is being processed in the body. The tests yield clinical
insight into many estrogen-dependent conditions and provide important
tools for monitoring dietary, lifestyle and hormone therapies.
This test reveals important clinical information about:
-
Estrogen metabolism in premenopausal and postmenopausal women, focusing
on the critical balance between the body's two primary hydroxyestrogens
(active and inactive)
- Hormonal imbalances that may affect the risk and prognosis of
estrogen-dependent health conditions, such as breast cancer, lupus,
osteoporosis, and heart disease.
- The
physiological impact of hormone therapy-including dietary, nutritional,
lifestyle, and estrogen replacement interventions. Click
here to view a sample report.
To
order this test click here |
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The Estrogen Metabolism Assessment (serum or urine) evaluates how
estrogen is being processed in the body. The test yields clinical
insight into many estrogen-dependent conditions and provides an
important tool for monitoring dietary, lifestyle and hormone therapies.
The
potential impact of estrogen on a woman's health and wellbeing is
enormous. Acting in a seeming paradoxical fashion, this powerful
hormone can exert a strong influence in diverse conditions such
as breast cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease, and autoimmune disorders.
Recent scientific advances into how this hormone is metabolized
in the body are shedding new light on estrogen's dual nature-leading
to more effective clinical interventions in estrogen-dependent conditions.
Estrogen
is metabolized in two ways. Along one pathway, it is converted into
a powerful metabolite, 16alpha-hydroxyestrone (16alpha-OHE1), that
acts to stimulate target tissues. Levels of 16alpha-OHE1 can rise
in response to obesity, alcohol consumption, and toxic exposure.
High levels of this potent metabolite are linked with increased
risk and poorer prognosis in conditions associated with estrogen
excess, including breast cancer and lupus.
Alternately,
the body can break down estrogen into a much weaker metabolite,
called 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1). This metabolite binds weakly to
cell receptors and may slow cell proliferation. However, excessive
levels of 2-OHE1 may increase the risk of developing conditions
associated with estrogen deficiency, such as heart disease, depression,
and osteoporosis.
A proper
balance between 2-OHE1 and 16alpha-OHE1 is the key to optimal health.
Measuring these primary estrogen metabolites allows practitioners
to develop individualized therapy based on each woman's unique health
risks.
Flaxseed
(lignans), soy products (isoflavones), cruciferous vegetables (indole-3-carbinol),
vigorous exercise, and omega-3 fatty acids are interventions that
may reduce the risk of estrogen-dependent disease by favorably modifying
the 2:16alpha-OHE1 ratio. Using this assessment, practitioners can
monitor the physiological impact of these and other treatments (including
hormone replacement therapy), gaining added insight into their clinical
safety and effectiveness.
The
Estrogen Metabolism Assessment is designed for both premenopausal
and postmenopausal women. It can be performed using serum or urine.
Both tests are fully validated and approved for in vitro diagnostic
use by the FDA. Serum sampling provides a direct assessment of circulating
estrogen metabolites able to act directly on target tissues. Urine
testing offers convenient, noninvasive sample collection. In both
serum and urine, 2-OHE1 is the primary 2-hydroxyestrogen measured,
although urinary analysis also detects small amounts of other 2-hydroxyestrogens.
It is recommended that baseline and follow-up analysis be performed
using the same specimen type.
All
lab tests can be done through the mail in the privacy of your own
home, except blood tests, we send you to a lab to have your blood
drawn for these. After you pay for the test we mail you the kit,
the results take two weeks, the test results will be mailed to us
and we will call you to go over the results, its that easy! All
tests include the consultation for the report of findings.
Click on test of interest on the right for more information.
Call our office for details.
800-956-7083 OR 818-707-3126.
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