Section A · Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Monday, September 22, 1997
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LAWRENCE AUTOMOTIVE DIAGNOSTICS
PREPARE II SLACK
Join the men of AEI all day Thursday and Friday at Wescoe Beach as they slack off to benefit the RapeVictims Survivor Service of Douglas County.
Progesterone supplements could prevent disorders
By Mike Perryman Kansan staff writer
When there is too much estrogen in a woman's body and not enough progesterone, abnormal things tend to occur. At least that is what John Lee, a retired California physician, told students and faculty in Malott Hall Thursday.
Dr. John Lee speaks to a group of students in Malotit Hall Thursday afternoon. Lee is touring the country speaking to university audiences about the effects of excess estrogen on certain cancers, infertility, miscarriages and PMS. Photo by Pam Dishman / KANSAN
Estrogen dominance has become a problem for women in industrialized countries, especially the United States, in the past 50 years. The condition is associated with such problems as osteoporosis, autoimmune disorders, obesity and premenstrual syndrome. Lee said.
Lack of progesterone, a steroid hormone secreted by the ovary, may lead to estrogen dominance, he said. The two hormones regulate female body functions, such as menstruation and pregnancy.
"Progesterone is equally as important as estrogen," he said. "It is safe and important in keeping the body healthy. Yet it is still neglected."
Lee said progesterone creams rubbed into the skin are readily absorbed and are one of the best ways to maintain a healthy amount of progesterone.
Albert Burgstahler, professor of chemistry, said he was impressed by the careful study Lee made of progesterone and its essential role in keeping the body healthy.
"His research on progesterone creams is valid," Burgsthaler said. "It is amazing that the progesterone, a natural hormone that the body absolutely depends on for many things, is so neglected."
While progesterone supplementation is still somewhat shunned in the world of medicine, estrogen is one of the top two profit-making prescription items on the market. Lee said.
"Doctors have entered the habit of overprescribing estrogen, which has actually surpassed prozac," he said.
This is illustrated in cases of women with osteoporosis, he said.
Osteoporosis is a bone disease in which new bone formation is deficient relative to bone resorption, or bone tissue deterioration. Bone resorption increases in women
when estrogen levels decline during menopause.
Fifty percent of women 36 years of age or older still are making estrogen but not enough progesterone, Lee said.
"A lot of women have a fair amount of estrogen in their bodies during this time," he said. "Yet physicians will prescribe additional estrogen anwav."
Estrogen only delays the decrease in bone density, which is associates with osteoporosis.
"There have been cases where I told women with osteoporosis to try progesterone, and their bone densities actually increased," he said.
Often, when doctors do recommend progesterone instead of estrogen, they prescribe synthetic rather than natural forms, Lee said.
"Progestins, which are synthetic
forms of progesterone, have side-effects, and there is strong evidence that they cause breast cancer and heart problems." he said.
Lee dropped by the University of Kansas after a class reunion in Minnesota. The chemistry department invited Lee to speak to organic and medicinal chemistry students. Lee was not paid for his services.
Lester Mitscher, distinguished professor of medicinal chemistry, said it was important that Lee came and spoke to students on the debated topic of estrogen and progesterone roles in the human body.
"Many people are still somewhat skeptical of progesterone ointments and their effects," he said. "But it is good when a seminar like Lee's comes up and gets people's blood moving, challenging them to think a little harder about things."