A Primer on Estrogen Management - Chrysin, DIM and Arimidex (5 of 7)

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Men convert a small amount of their testosterone (T) to estrogen (E)

by

the action of the aromatase enzyme. As men age, they experience both

decreasing levels of T and increasing levels of E. When the T/E ratio

begins to tip downwards, a number of negative health effects occur.

Men who are on T replacement therapy (TRT) often experience elevated E

as a side effect of boosting their T back to normal.

Whether you are on TRT or not, putting the T/E ratio back into proper

balance generally restores a man's vigor including improved erectile

function. The remainder of this primer discusses three remedies that

are used in estrogen management - (1) Chrysin, (2) Diindolylmethane

(DIM) and (3) Arimidex.

(1) Chrysin is a bioflaviniod that, according to scientific studies,

acts as an anti-aromatase. It has virtually no effect when taken

orally

because it's digested before it gets to the blood. Therefore, the

only

effective way to take Chrysin is topically (via gel or cream). Many

men

have reported a very significant increase in erectile function and

libido in the first few weeks on topical Chrysin, but the effect soon

fades. The residual effect is still generally positive, but

disappointing compared with the initial surge experience.

My blood tests indicate that Chrysin gel has no impact on lowering

Estradiol (the most potent estrogen). However, it has a remarkably

positive effect on improving insulin sensitivity (I'm T2 diabetic).

So,

I continue to apply Chrysin gel at 60 mg/day.

(2) Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a naturally occurring substance found

primarily in cruciferous vegetables (e.g., cabbage, broccoli,

cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, etc.) that helps the liver

digest/metabolize Estradiol into more benign/healthy estrogens. DIM is

also not very bioavailable when taken orally; however, Indolplex

(a.k.a., Di-indolin) is a proprietary formulation that increases DIM's

oral bioavailability.

For more information about DIM see www.dimfaq.com. This website was

written by Dr. Zeligs of BioResponse who owns the patent on

the proprietary DIM formulation.

I experienced a tremendous surge in erectile function during the

first 2

or 3 months on a very low dosage of Indoplex (25 to 50 mg/day).

Unlike the fade that occurred after 2 or 3 weeks on Chrysin gel, the

effect of Indoplex remains at about 80% of the surge effect level at

about 6 months after starting.

The recommended dosage for Indolplex is about 300 mg/day. This dosage

is way too much for me, but I'm highly responsive to it. I would

suggest

starting at 100 mg/day at dinner for 2 or 3 weeks and see how it goes.

Depending upon your response, adjust your dosage from there. I prefer

the tablets to the capsules because they break easily in half or

smaller

quantities so I can adjust my dosage more precisely. This is important

because the window of optimal dosage is small.

You can buy Indolplex/DIM over the Internet. If you do a web search

on

" diindolylmethane " you'll find a number of brands of DIM in tablets

and

capsules. Many of these websites are not consistent as to whether the

product is in tablets or capsules. You might want to email the

website

to confirm before your buy.

If you want capsules, you can but them directly from BioResponse by

calling 303-447-3841.

(3) Arimidex is a prescription drug that is very effective in lowering

blood levels of E by inhibiting the action of the aromatase enzyme.

While some men report clinical benefits from Arimidex, the results

overall do not match what one would expect from this treatment. The

reason for this discrepancy is unknown.

Both Chrysin and DIM are relatively benign supplements (no

prescription

required) with no side effects (unless you take very large amounts).

In

contrast, Arimidex is a prescription drug with a long list of side

effects.

I suspect that elevated E in men results more from insufficient

metabolization rather than excess aromatization. For a number of

reasons/causes the P450 system in the liver declines in function as

men

age. Therefore, we probably don't make more E as we get older; rather

we don't metabolize it as well as we did when we were younger.

That's why I think DIM is a much superior estrogen management

tool to Arimidex. In addition to being a food supplement rather than a

drug, it supports a deficient system in our bodies to do what it was

designed to do rather than blocking a well functioning system from

doing

what it was meant to do.

-

If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem

as

a nail. - A. Maslow

davidzolt@...

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