Estrogen Replacement Therapy
(9/2/16)- The conclusions of the Women’s Health Initiative (W.H.I.)-in 2002 was that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increased the risk of heart attacks, strokes, blood clots and breast cancer among the 27,347 women who participated in the study.
Recent studies have questioned that conclusion for women in the younger age bracket who began their estrogen replacement treatment shortly after they began the menopause stage in their life,
On average, women begin theie menopause stage in their life at 51, when their ovaries no longer produce enough estrogen to stimulate growth of the uterus lining that is shed every menstrual cycle. Most medical societies now recommend treatment for menopausal symptoms for up to 5 years using therapy that combines estrogen and progesterone, and even longer for those using estrogen by itself.
(10/7/01)- Only 35 to40% of women ever start ERT and many do not continue,
according to a study in the Archives Of internal Medicine 200!; 161:1161-1172
by Glazier and Bowman entitled: A Review of the Evidence for the Use of
Phytoestrogens as a Replacement for Traditional Estrogen Replacement Therapy.
They report an increasing interest in the use of plant-derived estrogen, also
known as phytoestrogens, either in diet or supplemental form. The intent of
their review was to determine the evidence for the potential use of
phytoestrogens to replace traditional forms of ERT. The review indicated that
more than 1000 articles had been published in the last 30 years about
phytoestrogens. They looked at 74 studies based on whether the studies used
human subjects, the quality of the clinical research and its relevance to the
goal of this study.
The goal was to see what role phytoestrogens played in inhibiting the growth of
cancer cell lines and its role in reduction of cholesterol levels. They further
examined one of phytoestrogens derivatives (ipriflavone)
potential to prevent osteoporosis.
While they found that the evidence for potential health benefits was
increasing, the health benefits of prescribed ERT far outweigh those of
phytoestrogens and suggest that there is insufficient evidence to recommend
phytoestrogens in place of ERT.
FOR AN INFORMATIVE AND PERSONAL ARTICLE ON PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS WHEN SELECTING A NURSING HOME SEE OUR ARTICLE "How to Select a Nursing Home"
Harold Rubin, MS, ABD, CRC, Guest Lecturer
September 2, 2016
http://www.therubins.com
To e-mail: hrubin12@nyc.rr.com or allanrubin4@gmail.com