Estrogen - the Unrecognized Male Hormone

Estradiol - the most common form of the estrogen steroid

In "Food Matters," Joe Schwarcz explains how consuming flax seeds reduces the risk of estrogen-induced breast cancer. He states that flax seeds contain chemically similar molecules called phytoestrogens that replace the estrogen molecules on estrogen-receptor sites, thereby decreasing cell growth and proliferation.

This made me wonder what estrogen's effects were on men, and if so, the potential health benefits or detriments flax seeds hold for men.

Dr. Rick Cohen's article, "Estrogen - the Unrecognized Male Hormone," describes how estrogen levels affect men and how men can combat a high estrogen level. Apparently, all men naturally have some estrogen, but a high estrogen level is bad for men. A high estrogen level is bad for men because it causes many sexual disfunctions and can lead to cancers and heart diseases. If there is too much estrogen, then estrogen molecules compete and bind at testosterone receptor-sites, decreasing testosterone production.

Testerone levels naturally decline when men age, but there are many lifestyle factors that can further diminish testerone levels, including stress, physical inactivity, lack of sleep, prescription medications, smoking, and drinking alcohol. Some tips Dr. Cohen suggests to help combat high estrogen levels are losing weight, drinking less alcohol, taking zinc, eating vegetables, anti-estrogen creams, and reducing medications altering liver function.

Dr. Cohen concludes his article by naming extracts to help lower estrogen levels. One extract he suggests is a bioflavonoid, which inhibits aromatase, an enzyme that changes testosterone to estrogen. Thus not only are flavonoids excellent anti-oxidants, but they can also decrease estrogen levels in men.


Sources:
http://www.smart-drugs.com/ias-estrogen.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estrogen