By Dr. Don Fisher, DO
Testosterone is the male hormone and we think of estrogen as the female hormone. However men need both to maintain good health. There are general misconceptions about estrogen in men. Often estrogen is thought to be bad for men — this isn’t always the case.
Estrogen actually plays a few vital roles in men — the two largest of these are:
- Maintaining the cardiovascular system and keeping blood vessels pliable
- Helping maintain a healthy libido
Men who choose to “block” estrogen with too much of the drugs which are known as estrogen-blockers can do harm to themselves by increasing their risk for cardiovascular issues and also cause diminished libido.
So — every man is different in his need to block estrogen when taking testosterone. Typically men who are over weight or men who tend to have insulin resistance (and resulting higher glucose levels) are likely to be candidates to block estrogen.
Sometimes in men when the levels of testosterone are optimal, we will see some excess estrogen symptoms. I like to make men aware of the following excess estrogen symptoms:
- Nipple sensitivity
- Breast tissue enlargement
- Prostatic symptoms – excessive urination at night/ difficulty with urine stream or flow
These excess estrogen symptoms can be confirmed with a simple blood test and then can be treated with estrogen-blocking meds such as Arimidex (Anastrazole), Nolvadex or Tamoxifen.
Testosterone produces too much estrogen in certain cases including:
- Excess adipose tissue (overweight)
- Alcohol use
- Zinc Deficiency
- Stress
- Inflammation
- Licorice use
Men who replace testosterone to the optimal and youthful level MAY need to just improve their lifestyles and other habits to prevent excess estrogen. Simple additions can help:
- Vitamin C
- Flavinoids (found in fruits)
- EGCG — in Green Tea
- Flaxseeds
To improve estrogen metabolism and to lessen any risk of prostatic issues, I usually recommned a supplement which I take called DIM (di-indole methane) along with I-3C or Indole 3 Carbinol). These chemicals are essentially the healthy components of cruciferous vegetables which have a very beneficial effect on men’s estrogen metabolism.
Dr. Don Fisher, D.O., is a leader in the practice of Age Management Medicine and medical director of The Best Program in Fort Lauderdale. His Healthwatch column will appear biweekly.
