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Clinicians Women's Hormone Support | 90 Vegetable Capsules

Clinicians Women's Hormone Support | 90 Vegetable Capsules

$43.44
$43.44
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Clinicians Women's Hormone Support

What is Women's Hormone Support?

Women's Hormone Support is a natural plant based dietary supplement that supports healthy hormonal balance during the menstrual cycle; and also helps provide natural protection against breast cancer.   

Why use  Women's Hormone Support?

Maintaining the balance between the various forms of oestrogen is important for maintaining a healthy menstrual cycle. Hormonal imbalance can result in pre-menstrual syndrome and other conditions associated with the menstrual cycle. Women’s Hormone Support provides natural plant-based support for a healthy hormonal balance during the menstrual cycle. Women’s Hormone Support may also provide protection against some forms of oestrogen-dependant breast cancers by preventing tumour cell growth.

What are the Key Benefits of Women's Hormone Support?

  • Natural plant derived support for healthy hormone balance 
  • Helps promote detoxification of oestrogen in the liver 
  • Provides natural protection against breast cancer
  • Gluten and dairy free
  • No added yeast, sugar, preservatives or artificial colouring

What is a phytoestrogen?

A Phytoestrogen is a plant derived compound that is similar in structure to endogenous (naturally occurring) oestradiol also known as 17-β-oestradiol or E2. Phytoestrogens can bind to the oestrogen receptor on cells that are responsive to oestrogen and can mimic some of the activities of endogenous oestrogen, although their effect is much weaker. These include effects on bone, ovarian, vascular and endometrial tissue, which may help improve menopausal symptoms due to low levels of natural oestrogen1, 2. Phytoestrogens can also act as a selective oestrogen receptor modulator (SERM), which means they can affect the signalling pathway in oestrogen responsive cells, such as breast cancer cells and block their cell growth3. They also influence oestrogen metabolism, which can alter the balance of different forms of oestrogen, helping to restore the balance between beneficial and potentially harmful forms of oestrogen3, 4, 5

Oestrogen metabolism

The main oestrogens that circulate in the blood are oestradiol, which is the most biologically active oestrogen and estrone, and the main urinary oestrogen is oestriol or 16-hydroxyestradiol.
In premenopausal women oestradiol is synthesised in the ovaries and controls the normal menstrual cycle. It also has other important effects such as maintaining bone mass and is involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. In postmenopausal women estrone is synthesised in peripheral tissues by conversion of androgens (like testosterone) to oestrogens by action of the enzyme aromatase6, 7. Oestradiol and estrone are metabolised to various metabolites mainly in the liver and some other tissues by the action of Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 in the liver and CYP1A1 in other tissues), which is a major drug-metabolizing enzyme system responsible for detoxification processes. Resulting metabolites are mostly lacking in oestrogenic activity and are excreted in the urine. These include 2-hydroxyestrone, 4-hydroxyestrone, 2-hydroxyestradiol, 4-hydroxyestradiol and 16α-hydroxyestrone, which are further metabolised (methylated) to various methoxyestrogens. Estriol (16-hydroxyestradiol), another form of oestrogen is produced by the hydroxylation of estradiol or 16α-hydroxyestrone. Some of these metabolites, particularly 2-hydroxyestrone have protective effects, while others are associated with increased risk of breast cancer like 16α-hydroxyestrone8. It has been proposed that the regulation of the CYP enzymes in relation to oestrogen metabolism may have a physiological impact of the effects of oestrogen on its target tissues9.

Oestrogen metabolites and risk of breast cancer

Oestrogen exerts its effect on oestrogen responsive cells via intracellular estrogen receptors (ER), which then mediate changes in the DNA by inducing expression of certain genes. Activation of some of these receptors by some metabolites of oestrogen are thought to contribute to the development of certain breast cancers and this is known as their genotoxic oestrogenic effects8. Increased risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women has been associated with increased circulating levels of oestradiol and estrone as well as androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which are precursors for oestrogen synthesis.
Of the oestrogen metabolites identified in urine, 16α-hydroxyestrone and 4-hydroxy metabolites are relatively more estrogenic and have genotoxic potential while 2-hydroxy metabolites are considered to have little estrogenic activity or antiestrogenic properties6. In a study looking at the relative amounts of various urinary oestrogen metabolites in relation to risk of breast cancer in perimenopausal women, higher levels of urinary estrone and estradiol, also the 2- and 4- hydroxyestrogens metabolites, were associated with lower risk. However, this association was not seen with the 16α-hydroxyestrone metabolites10. Metabolism of oestrogen by CYP3A4 in the liver converts it to less active forms that suppress cell proliferation promote cell death (apoptosis) in oestrogen-responsive cancers like breast cancer7. A study comparing the risk of breast cancer relative to the ratio of various oestrogen metabolites, found evidence that 16alpha-hydroxylated estrogen metabolites, which are more biologically active were associated with increased risk of breast cancer, while 2-hydroxylated metabolites, which are less biologically active, were associated with low risk of breast cancer11.

What are the Ingredients in Women’s Hormone Support?

Key Ingredients:

Diindolylmethane

Women’s Hormone Support contains 100mg diindolylmethane (DIM) per capsule. DIM is a natural phytoestrogen that is found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and kale and is converted during digestion in the stomach from indole-3-carbinol (I3C), an inactive form of indole. DIM helps promote healthy metabolism and detoxification of naturally occurring oestrogens, which maintains the balance between oestrogen and other hormones like progesterone that control the menstrual cycle. DIM can help alleviate some of the symptoms associated with dysfunctional menstrual cycle, such as premenstrual tension. Studies with breast cancer cells demonstrated that DIM has antiproliferative effects, and works by inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis (pre-programmed cell death). DIM also anti-estrogenic activity in terms of promoting detoxification of oestrogen12. There is evidence to suggest that phytoestrogens like DIM have the potential to reduce the genotoxic effects of oestrogen metabolites, which reduces risk of breast cancer. In a study of human liver and intestinal cells, DIM was found to induce CYP3A4, which promotes detoxification process, although this may also affect some medication13. In pre-clinical studies, DIM has been reported to suppress estrogen-responsive cancers, which may be mediated through interaction with the of cytochrome P450 enzyme system, leading to estrogen detoxification and promoting conversion of more potent forms of oestrogen into less potent forms14. Also DIM has been shown to inhibit the aromatase enzyme, which inhibits conversion of testosterone into estrogen, which reduces the overall effects of oestrogen in the body7. Studies in which postmenopausal women were given DIM demonstrated an increase in the urinary levels of the estrogen metabolite 2-hydroxyestrone, which is associated with reduced breast cancer risk 5, 7, 15, 16, 17.

Vitamin E

Women’s Hormone Support also contains vitamin E as d-alpha-tocopheryl succinate, which is a natural form of vitamin E obtained from nuts, seeds, oils, grains and leafy green vegetables. This form of vitamin E is often used as an addition to dietary supplements as it is more stable and has greater bioavailability compared to other forms of vitamin E18. D-alpha-tocopheryl succinate has been shown to demonstrate antioxidant and anti-cancer properties in various animal and in vitro systems19, 20.

Other ingredients:

Tapioca powder

What are the Contraindications/Interactions of Women’s Hormone Support?

There are no documented contraindications or interactions within the recommended dosage. However, you should always check the ingredients for known allergies and to ensure you do not have any allergies or sensitivities to these ingredients. Stop using if you develop any irritation or allergy while taking Women’s Hormone Support. Always read the label and use as directed or seek advice from your healthcare professional.
The most commonly reported side effects when taking Women’s Hormone Support include headache, diarrhoea, nausea and discolouration of urine.

Caution:

Women’s Hormone Support should be used with caution if:
  • pregnant or while breast-feeding 
  • you have an oestrogen-sensitive cancer or an oestrogen-related condition, without consultation with your doctor.

What are the Directions for using Women’s Hormone Support?

Dosage:

You should take one capsule of your Women’s Hormone Support twice daily, or as directed by your healthcare professional.

Product Size

90 Vegetable Capsules

References

The following references provide scientific support for the use of this product:
  1. Sirotkin AV, Harrath AH. Phytoestrogens and their effects. Eur J Pharmacol 2014 Oct 15;741:230-6. 
  2. Usui T. Pharmaceutical prospects of phytoestrogens. Endocr J.2006 Feb;53(1):7-20.
  3. Lee GA, Hwang KA, Choi KC. Roles of Dietary Phytoestrogens on the Regulation of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Diverse Cancer Metastasis. Toxins (Basel).2016 May 24;8(6). 
  4. Pilšáková L, Riečanský I, Jagla F. The physiological actions of isoflavone phytoestrogens. Physiol Res. 2010;59(5):651-64. 
  5. van Duursen MBM. Modulation of estrogen synthesis and metabolism by phytoestrogens in vitro and the implications for women's health. Toxicol Res (Camb).2017 Sep 8;6(6):772-794
  6. Samavat H, Kurzer MS. Estrogen Metabolism and Breast Cancer. Cancer Lett. 2015 Jan 28; 356(2 0 0): 231–243.
  7. Kabat GC, O'Leary ES, Gammon MD, Sepkovic DW, Teitelbaum SL, Britton JA, Terry MB, Neugut AI, Bradlow HL. Estrogen metabolism and breast cancer. Epidemiology 2006 17:80–88 
  8. Liehr JG. Is Estradiol a Genotoxic Mutagenic Carcinogen? Endocrine Reviews 2000; 21(1): 40–54. 
  9. Tsuchiya Y, Nakajima M, Yokoi T. Cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism of estrogens and its regulation in human. Cancer Lett.2005 Sep 28;227(2):115-24. 
  10. Eliasson AH, Spiegelman D, Xu X, LK, Veenstra TD et al. Urinary estrogens and estrogen metabolites and subsequent risk of breast cancer among premenopausal women Cancer Res. 2012 Feb 1; 72(3): 696–706.
  11. Muti P, Bradlow HL, Micheli A, Krogh V, Freudenheim JL et al. Estrogen metabolism and risk of breast cancer: a prospective study of the 2:16alpha-hydroxyestrone ratio in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Epidemiology. 2000 Nov;11(6):635-40.
  12. Thomson CA, Ho E,, Strom MB. Chemopreventive properties of 3,3'-diindolylmethane in breast cancer: evidence from experimental and human studies. Nutr Rev.2016 Jul;74(7):432
  13. Pondugula SR, Flannery PC, Abbott KL, Coleman ES, Mani S, Samuel T, Xie W. Diindolylmethane, a naturally occurring compound, induces CYP3A4 and MDR1 gene expression by activating human PXR. Toxicol Lett 2015 Feb 3; 232(3): 580–589. 
  14. Parkin DR, Malejka-Giganti D. Differences in the hepatic P450-dependent metabolism of estrogen and tamoxifen in response to treatment of rats with 3,3'-diindolylmethane and its parent compound indole-3-carbinol. Cancer Detect Prev. 2004;28(1):72-9. 
  15. Vivar OI, Saunier EF, Leitman DC, Firestone GL, Bjeldanes LF. Selective activation of estrogen receptor-beta target genes by 3,3'-diindolylmethane. Endocrinology. 2010 Apr;151(4):1662-7. 
  16. Dalessandri KM, Firestone GL, Fitch MD, Bradlow HL, Bjeldanes LF. Pilot study: effect of 3,3′-diindolylmethane supplements on urinary hormone metabolites in postmenopausal women with a history of early-stage breast cancer. Nutr Cancer 2004 50:161–167 
  17. Thomson CA, Chow HHS, Wertheim BC, Roe DJ, Stopeck A, et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of diindolylmethane for breast cancer biomarker modulation in patients taking tamoxifen. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2017 Aug;165(1):97-107. 
  18. Jensen SK. Lauridsen C. Alpha-tocopherol stereoisomers. Vitam Horm.2007;76:281-308. 
  19. Neuzil J. Vitamin E succinate and cancer treatment: a vitamin E prototype for selective antitumour activity. Br J Cancer.2003 Nov 17;89(10):1822-6.
  20. Ranard KM, Erdman JW. Nutr Rev.2018 Mar 1;76(3):141-153. Effects of dietary RRR α-tocopherol vs all-racemic α-tocopherol on health outcomes.