Lexicon
Estrogen
Also known as Estradiol
Definition
Estrogens regulate important processes in the reproductive, skeletal, cardiovascular, and central nervous systems that impact women's overall health, and 17-beta-estradiol (E2) is the major estrogen in the body. [1] [2] Menopause is caused by reduced secretion of the ovarian hormones estrogen and progesterone, and the decline in ovarian estrogen production can cause debilitating physical symptoms including hot flushes, night sweats, and urogenital atrophy. [3] [4] Estrogens are also potent metabolic regulators in men, in whom the conversion of testosterone to estradiol is fundamental to bone and vascular health and to preventing excess visceral adiposity. [5]
How it works
17-beta-estradiol regulates energy balance primarily via estrogen receptor alpha, acting centrally on hypothalamic neurons and peripherally on the liver, adipose tissue, and pancreatic beta cells. [2] In women estradiol is central to bone and vascular health, subcutaneous fat distribution, skeletal-muscle insulin sensitivity, anti-inflammatory immune function, and mitochondrial health. [5] Beyond direct effects on bone remodeling, estrogens influence bone health indirectly through the gut microbiota and gut-barrier function, and a menopausal fall in estrogen is associated with reduced gut microbial diversity and low-grade inflammation. [6]
Connected concepts
How it's measured
Reliable menstrual-cycle research recommends measuring serum estrogen and progesterone concentrations at the time of testing, combined with calendar counting and urinary luteinizing-hormone surge testing, to verify cycle phase. [7] With vaginal estrogen preparations, serum estradiol levels remained within postmenopausal norms for all products except high-dose conjugated equine estrogen cream, reflecting minimal systemic absorption. [8]
What levels mean
The low estrogen levels that follow natural or premature menopause increase the risk of several diseases and are associated with increased mortality risk. [9] Estrogen deficiency, such as that caused by menopause or ovariectomy, is linked to obesity and metabolic disorders that can be resolved or reversed by estrogen therapy. [2] In a meta-analysis of 33 randomized trials in 44,639 postmenopausal women, menopausal hormone therapy did not lower all-cause death or cardiovascular events overall but increased the risk of stroke and venous thromboembolism, while women who started therapy within 10 years of
Community knowledge
## Cardiometabolic & Lipid Effects
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- 1.Stanczyk FZ. Metabolism of endogenous and exogenous estrogens in women. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol · 2024
- 2.Mahboobifard F, Pourgholami MH, Jorjani M, Dargahi L, Amiri M, Sadeghi S, Tehrani FR. Estrogen as a key regulator of energy homeostasis and metabolic health. Biomed Pharmacother · 2022
- 3.Davis SR, Lambrinoudaki I, Lumsden M, Mishra GD, Pal L, Rees M, Santoro N, Simoncini T. Menopause. Nat Rev Dis Primers · 2015
- 4.Nelson HD. Menopause. Lancet · 2008
- 5.Mauvais-Jarvis F, Lindsey SH. Metabolic benefits afforded by estradiol and testosterone in both sexes: clinical considerations. J Clin Invest · 2024
- 6.Kverka M, Stepan JJ. Associations Among Estrogens, the Gut Microbiome and Osteoporosis.
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