Soy for hormones and preventing regrowth after tx?

[Bihbicat]

Hi Dr Nase, I only just noticed this thread after posting on another about this (I expect all the other threads will dry up now and only this one grilling you endlessly will remain!).

As you know we recently discussed Black Cohosh but because it seems that might not be a good move for my compromised liver I'm wonder how effective the Soy Isolate (I think that's what you called it) that you once mentioned in the same breath as Black Cohosh would be on its own as a measure to reduce hormonal flushing. Perry has also said it's a natural way to prevent regrowth post tx. Can you confirm if this is the case, if it's liver friendly, and what doses would be needed to achieve both results? Also, any tips on a good brand?

And while I got you here should one stop Alpha Lipoic Acid 7 days before tx? After hearing you sing its praises I added it to the routine at 250mg a day and I really think I notice an improvement.

Thanks and cheers, B

[drnase]

Hi Bihi,

Black Cohosh is still the herbal choice. A simple five minute blood test prior to starting the herb and at months one and 6 are recommended for anyone with liver problems..... but they still take them as long as the liver profil is normal.

Soy Isoflavones:

Symptoms that sometimes occur with menopause include night swears and hot flashes. These are due to a loss of temperature control - one of the by-products of a slowed production of estrogen. because of their weak estrogen-like effects, soybean isoflavones may be an alternative way to control menopausal symptoms.

In Japan, where soy foods are commonly consumed daily, women are only one-third as likely to report menopausal symptoms as in the United States or Canada. In fact, there is no word in the Japanese language for "hot flashes". Even though their estrogen activity is weak, isoflavones may be potent enough to reduce menopausal symptoms. In fact, research has shown that women who ate soy flour daily experienced about a 40 percent reduction in menopausal symptoms.

Since estrogen helps protect against osteoporosis and heart disease, women are at greater risk for both of these problems after menopause. Adding soy foods or an isoflavone supplement may provide some benefit.

Finally there may be a future for soy as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy. There is much excitement about this area of study, but it's still too early to tell. However, with many women approaching menopause - and a resounding majority feeling uncomfortable about taking synthetic estrogen or hormone replacement therapy - more research is called for. In fact, nearly one-third of all prescriptions for hormone replacement therapy go unfilled.

Soy is very liver friendly and actually helps the key enzyme cytochrome P-450. I dont know anything about anti-angiogenesis of this compound, so I cant make an educated guess on it.

The new supplements that supply low levels of black cohosh, soy isoflavones and Dong Quai are showing the best clinical resutls.

You do not need to stop alpha lipoic acid prior to laser treatment. Glad to hear it is helping somewhat.

Good to hear from you.

[Bihbicat]

Thanks so much for that. I just read the new guidelines for posting in this section and realised I did it all wrong, so sorry about that.

The hormonal stuff is a pain to work out as I'm only at the start of the peri-menopause stage and even then not a lot is showing up on the bloodwork, but I get various signs and symptoms so I guess it's early days. Soy certainly sounds like a good move once the eosterogen starts dropping, but right now I don't think that's my problem. I think if anything I may suffer from eosterogen dominance or just plain mad fluctuations that affect my body, mood, and rosacea. Anyway, I'm experimenting right now by going without my natural progesterone this month. I've been using that since just before I got rosacea and realised it could be an interesting experiment to cut it out and see what happens after I read one post where a woman said natural progesterone made her flush more. We'll see. Meanwhile, my husband has moved out and taken up residence at a hotel in another city (joking of course, but he is quaking in his boots with the memory of my pre-progesteron PMS mood swings).