Menopause News Update November 2010

Hormone Replacement Therapy Is Linked to More Aggressive Breast Cancer

It was demonstrated in the initial analysis of the Women’s Health Initiative Study that women who were treated with estrogen and progestin had an elevated risk to develop breast cancer. This recent analysis has further demonstrated that these cancers are also more likely to be more advanced at the time of diagnosis.

Estrogen Therapy Accelerates Ovarian Cancer Growth

Researchers from the University of Colorado have demonstrated that estrogen can cause some types of ovarian cancer to grow faster in mouse models. About 60% of ovarian cancers will have estrogen receptors, and estrogen can cause these cancers to grow faster in these animal models.

Soy based Supplement, Natural S-equol, Can Reduce Hot Flashes, and Muscle and Joint Pain in First Study of US Women

This information was recently presented in poster form at the North American Menopause Society. S-equol is a whole soy germ –based supplement. It was recently shown to decrease the frequency of moderate to severe hot flashes and reduces menopausal associated muscle and joint pain. S-equol [7-hydroxy-3-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-chroman] is a compound resulting — when certain bacteria are present in the digestive tract — from the natural metabolism, or conversion, of daidzein, an isoflavone found in whole soybeans. However, not everyone who consumes soy can produce s-equol. S-equol selectively binds to the estrogen receptor, most strongly to the receptor beta. Additional clinical evidence has also demonstrated that S-equol can help preserve bone.

Manufacturing Plan for Hot Flash Drug Candidate Menerba Approved by the FDA

Menerba is an oral, botanically derived drug candidate designed to treat hot flashes associated with menopause. Its action is through the estrogen receptor beta. The designs for the definitive studies are currently being planned with the FDA and the drug’s manufacturer, Bionovo.

The National Institute of Health is Increasing Funding to Study the Health Effects of Botanical Estrogens

The Botanical Research Center based at the University of Illinois, will receive a large portion of the funding, as well as University of Mississippi, Oregon State University and the FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research. The research will utilize the expertise of a multidisciplinary team of researchers to address the many unknowns associated with use of botanical estrogens. Examples of naturally derived phyto estrogens are from soy, licorice root, wild yam and dong quai, Prior research related to the efficacy of the naturally derived estrogens has lead to mixed results. Some research has even demonstrated that some of these agents may interfere with breast cancer treatment and induce cognitive problems.

Non-Hormone Treatments of Hot Flashes

A new Cochrane review finds that a variety of non-hormonal treatments (mostly non-hormonal drugs) can offer women who have had breast cancer some relief from hot flashes. Relaxation therapy, the anti hypertensive Clonidine, the anti convulsant gabapentin and the anti depressants that inhibit serotonin reuptake were found in review to have a mild to moderate effect.

Menopause Associated Depression Can be Treated with an Antidepressant

Pristiq was recently demonstrated to be effective in treating menopause associated depression in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. . This data was recently published study generated from Virginia Commonwealth University. This is the first study to demonstrate the effectiveness of an antidepressant specifically related to perimenopause and post menopause.

Progestin Type May Alter Breast Cancer Risk in Hormone Replacement Therapy

In animal studies recently published in Cancer Prevention Research from the University of Missouri, researches compared synthetic progestins (medroxyprogesterone acetate – MPA), norgesterel, norethindrone, and megesterol acetate. Animal studies have demonstrated that MPA is a tumor promoter, however norgesterel and norethindrone are tumor inhibitors.

Posted: November 1st, 2010 | Author: drpoynor | Filed under: estrogen, general health, gynecology, menopause | Tags: news, reviews | No Comments »

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