HRT Linked to Gallstone Risk

[Guest guest]

Thought that this would be of interest to the many ladies in this age

group

~Suzanne

Estrogen Linked to Gallstone Risk

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may

raise a woman's likelihood of

developing gallstones.

A gallstone can develop when bile,

cholesterol, calcium salts and other

substances come together to form a mass

in the gallbladder, the tiny sac

tucked under the liver that stores

bile. Gallstones often exist without causing

symptoms, but surgery is sometimes

necessary when the stones cause

severe pain.

Researchers studied more than 13,000

middle-aged women who enrolled in

the European Prospective Investigation

Into Cancer in 1993. The investigators

followed up on the women an average of

3 years later and found that 58 of

those women had developed gallstones.

The researchers matched each of those

women to four more women similar in

age who did not develop gallstones and

compared their use of hormone

replacement therapy. They also took

into account risk factors for gallstone,

such as alcohol use, previous

pregnancies and body weight.

They reported that the women who were

using HRT were three times more

likely to develop gallstones than women

who were taking no HRT at all. This

research confirms similar findings

reported in the Nurses' Health Study, a

large-scale population study taking

place in the United States.

The researchers also found a

dose-dependant response, with women who

took HRT for less than 3 years 2.5

times more likely to

develop gallstones, while those who

took HRT for more

than 3 years had 4 times the risk of

developing gallstones.

Because gallstones are composed

primarily of cholesterol the researchers

believe that the use of estrogen could

promote an increase in cholesterol in bile

that leads to gallstone formation.

Among the women who developed gallstones,

33% of the cause could be accounted for

by the use of estrogen.

Digestive Disease Week San Francisco,

CA May 23, 2002

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:

E-mail to a friend

Unless you had your head buried under

the sand for the last few years,

you should be aware that excess

estrogen is one of the main causes of

breast cancer.

The key here is excess. Women do need

estrogen. The problem is that

most western women have excessive

amounts. One of the few times

estrogen replacement therapy is

appropriate is after a total hysterectomy

and removal of the ovaries.

Unfortunately the above study was quite

small and did not seem to

differentiate between these two groups.

However, in addition to estrogen

increasing the risk of breast cancer,

the study shows it increases insulin

levels.

This is important because increased

insulin levels are associated with

not only increased risk of cancer, but

high blood pressure, diabetes,

high cholesterol and obesity.

Estrogen has also been promoted for

many years to decrease the risk of

heart disease. Well folks, this is

simply not true.

Although estrogen does appear to lower

cholesterol levels, heart

disease prevention is clearly far more

complex than cholesterol levels

alone. It seems quite clear that

estrogen supplementation in

postmenopausal women who still have

their ovaries does not lower the

risk of heart disease.

Additionally, estrogen is not a cure

for bone loss or does it decrease a

women's risk of Alzheimer's disease.

The way to prevent gallstones is

through maintaining your ideal body

weight with exercise.

If you already have gallbladder

problems, incorporating the eating plan

will also be helpful.

I have also learned that digestive

enzyme supplements with high

amounts of lipase are particularly

helpful in controlling the gallbladder

problems.

Currently, my favorite prescription is

Ultrase MT. It is expensive, well

over $100/month. However, if you have a

prescription card, look into the

details as it could save you a

significant amount of money.

Alternatively there are many excellent

non-prescription enzymes out

there. Just make sure that it has a

high amount of lipase.