PCOS Review Newsletter #25
Natural Health Ideas for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
A free monthly newsletter for women with ovarian cysts or PCOS.
Issue #025 August 27, 2005
Nancy Dunne, N.D., Naturopathic Physician
Bill Slater, Research Associate
1) Progesterone Cream May Deliver a High Dose
2) Fatty Diet May Thwart Brain's Fullness Signal
1) Progesterone Cream May Deliver a High Dose
Women who use over-the-counter progesterone creams could be exposed to hormone levels comparable to prescription oral progesterone, a small study suggests.
The study compared one brand of progesterone cream with a prescription oral progesterone that, like the cream, is derived from plant sources and provides a hormone that is structurally identical to the natural progesterone in a woman's body. The prescription product, Prometrium, is used as part of hormone replacement therapy after menopause, or for restoring menstruation in younger women whose periods have stopped.
The study found that the over-the-counter cream, when taken as the label directs, exposed study volunteers to as much hormone as the prescription did. However, the cream delivered a steadier dose because it is slowly absorbed through the skin.
We recommend that you not use over-the-counter progesterone creams unless you know exactly how much progesterone is in the product, and how much progesterone you actually need.
The dose of progesterone you get from the cream will depend on the manufacturer, how much you apply, how often you apply it, and where you apply it. Some areas of the body absorb better than others.
Your wisest course of action is to consult with a licensed naturopathic physician or endocrinologist before you to try to "rebalance" your hormones by yourself. You need expert advice to determine the appropriate amount of progesterone (if any) and the best delivery method for you.
Slathering progesterone cream on your body just because it sounds like a good idea is not a good idea. Progesterone is a very powerful hormone. Treat it with respect. We caution you about "flying blind" with self-administered hormone therapy.
However, progesterone cream can be a very useful therapy, if used properly with proper guidance. Progesterone may be administered to PCOS women in the following cases: to induce withdrawal bleeding, to suppress secretion of luteinizing hormone, in ovulation induction in clomiphene citrate-resistant patients and in luteal phase support in assisted reproduction.
Please see our Natural Progesterone Cream web page for more information.
Source: Hermann, AC et al, Over-the-counter progesterone cream produces significant drug exposure compared to a food and drug administration-approved oral progesterone product. J Clin Pharmacol. 2005 Jun;45(6):614-9.
2) Fatty Diet May Thwart Brain's Fullness Signal
We discussed in chapter 3.2 of our e-book that some PCOS women have an unbalanced or impaired hunger-regulating hormone called cholecystokinin (CCK), leading to excess food consumption and increases in weight. A study of rats was just released, suggesting that a high-fat diet may impair sensitivity to CCK. This issue is especially relevant for women on a "low-carb" diet because the carbs are often replaced with fat as well as protein.
Rats fed a high-fat diet appear to lose their sensitivity to a hormone that tells the body when it's had enough to eat -- and the same could be true of humans, according to researchers. In experiments with rats fed either a high- or low-fat diet, researchers at Pennsylvania State University found that the fatty diet diminished the rodents' sensitivity to CCK.
CCK is secreted by the small intestine to aid in the digestion of fat and protein. It is also one of the "satiety signals" that the body produces to tell the brain that it's time to stop eating.
Rats in the study were maintained on either a high-fat or low-fat diet for 3 weeks. When they were then tempted with a fatty snack, the animals that had lived on the high-fat diet ate more of the treat than those on the low-fat diet. And when the researchers injected the animals with CCK, they found that the hormone suppressed the low-fat group's appetite over the next hour, but not that of the high-fat group.
The findings suggest that consistently eating high-fat foods can desensitize the body to CCK's signal to stop eating.
There is reason to believe that the findings in rats translate to humans, according to the lead researcher. He pointed to a study that found that people who followed a high-fat diet for 2 weeks gradually became less satisfied from eating fatty foods -- suggesting that, in the real world, they would have started eating more.
The findings underscore the importance of knowing which foods are most appropriate for dealing with PCOS and for improving your overall health. For complete details, refer to The Natural Diet Solution for PCOS and Infertility.
Source: Savastano DM, et al, Adaptation to a high-fat diet leads to hyperphagia and diminished sensitivity to cholecystokinin in rats. J Nutr. 2005 Aug;135(8):1953-9.
3) Eva's PCOS Success Story
Eva's doctor recommended metformin for her PCOS. Instead, she decided to try the natural approach for 6 months first. She immediately changed her diet, determined to lose the extra pounds, and also to make it more healthy -- she followed a VERY strict low glycemic index and organic diet. She also started exercising and taking supplements. And, she got some acupuncture treatments.
Before long she had lost 15 pounds and conceived. She now has a baby daughter named Noa.
Read the rest of Eva's story and get the details of what she did.
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