Estrogen Metabolism and the Diet-cancer Connection: Rationale for Assessing the Ratio of Urinary Hydroxylated Estrogen Metabolites

Summary

This review presents the accumulated evidence to help clinicians evaluate the merit of using tests that measure estrogen metabolites and using interventions to modify estrogen metabolism. Richard S. Lord, PhD, Bradley Bongiovanni, ND, J. Alexander Bralley, PhD, CCN

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Lord RS, Bongiovanni B, and Bralley JA, “Estrogen metabolism and the diet-cancer connection: rationale for assessing the ratio of urinary hydroxylated estrogen metabolites.” Altern Med Rev. 2002. 7(2): p. 112-29.

Details

Numerous studies have shown pre- and postmenopausal women with urinary 2/16 above 2.0 have reduced risk for estrogen-sensitive cancers. Particular candidates for testing include women identified to be at high risk due to family history or genetic testing, those with increased estrogen exposure over their lifetime, and women with a history of breast cancer eager to prevent recurrence. Since the development of cancer from a few malignant cells to a diagnosable tumor can have a long incubation period, perhaps years or decades, it is extremely valuable to offer women an objective method to assess risk for estrogen sensitive cancers as early as possible. The simple, non-invasive urine 2/16 ratio test offers the promise of earlier determination of cancer risk, and simple, cost-effective, and non-toxic risk modification in the form of dietary and nutritional interventions.