Re: Bleeding. Supplement info.

[Guest guest]

> Hi Jean,

>

> There are three causes of dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB)

>

> " Menorrhagia Prolonged or excessive bleeding at regular intervals

This is the type of bleeding I have.

> Assuming that your bleeding is a result of high-estrogen levels

which

> is linked to fibroid formation, then you might consider trying the

> two supplements I've listed below to help your body improve your

> estrogen balance and control your bleeding (hopefully).

As I understand it, the excessive bleeding during my period is due to

the inability of the uterine muscle to contract properly and close

off the bleeding blood vessels in the normal way because of the

physical presence of the fibroid tumor tissue. So the normal

bleeding that occurs during menstruation is increased because the

fibroids physically interfere with the ability of uterine muscle

contraction to close up the blood vessels in that area.

(Please anyone, let me know if you have more/better/corrected

explanation!)

As you point out, the fibroids probably grew in the first place in

response to estrogen, so reducing estrogen levels could help prevent

additional growth of the fibroids. But unless I shrink or remove

the current fibroids, I don't think the bleeding will decrease. Is

that your understanding as well?

> I was looking up information on Calcium this morning, as the girls

on

> the HealingFromFibroidsNaturally group have been having some

success

> with calcium glucarate supplmentation. Anyhow, I found this mention:

Re calcium supplements, I do take small amounts, but haven't noticed

any affect. What amounts of calcium do others take?

> " Calcium-D-glucarate is the calcium salt of D-glucaric acid, a

> substance produced naturally in small amounts by mammals, including

> humans. Glucaric acid is also found in many fruits and vegetables

> with the highest concentrations to be found in oranges, apples,

> grapefruit, and cruciferous vegetables "

> " Calcium-D-glucarate's inhibition of beta-glucuronidase activity

> allows the body to excrete hormones such as estrogen before they

can

> become reabsorbed. Oral administration of large doses of calcium-D-

> glucarate have been shown to lower serum estrogen levels in rats by

> 23 percent. (21) Because many breast cancers are estrogen-

dependent,

> calcium-D-glucarate's ability to affect estrogen and other hormone

> levels has led to Phase I clinical trials at several major cancer

> centers in the United States. Results of these studies are pending. "

> (from Calcium-D-glucarate. (Monograph). Alternative Medicine

Review,

> August, 2002

>

http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m0FDN/4_7/91155405/p1/article.jhtml

> ?term=)

I spent a few afternoons reading research abstracts and some articles

via PubMed - it was by no means an exhaustive search - I'm sure there

is more to read. But here are my preliminary conclusions, for myself:

D-Glucarate:

-present in many fruits & vegetables.

-inhibits beta-glucuronidase, which is an enzyme in our guts that

breaks bond between glucuronic acid and whatever it is bound to.

-some toxic chemicals and some hormones such as estrogen are

eliminated by binding them to glucuronic acid in the liver and then

excreting this complex.

So I conclude:

- the affect of D-glucarate might be to enhance elimination of

estrogen, by inhibiting the enzyme that can free glucuronic acid-

bound estrogen.

- There is IMO only weak evidence for benefit of supplementation at

this time. Some studies are underway, but their focus is cancer, not

fibroids, so results may not be directly applicable.

- Continue to eat lots of vegetables instead.

> Also, the other supplement that the " girls " (like Edie) have been

> taking is DIM-plus (Diindolylmethane) which is a compound that

helps

> the body metabolize estrogens effectively which can help with

> hormonal balance.

My preliminary look into the DIM literature:

DIM acts as an estrogen receptor agonist, and inhibits breast cancer

cell growth, and endometrial cancer cell growth in cell culture.

Again, most of the research is on cancer, not fibroids, and is very

preliminary, so I would not consider taking this compound. Also,

sites selling this say it " promotes estrogen metabolism " and I

haven't found any article that supports this statement.

Ann, thanks for posting all this info.

Jean.