Yes, very good post.... unfortunately it was from 1999 and it would be interesting to see some similar "conference highlights" from some of the more recent years!
Anyone have any access to those?
As to Progesterone, I sometimes wonder if there might be something there. I know of one guy (a world reknown research chemist - according to himself - who has published a number of books - smaller booklets almost - is adamant that Progestoerone is "the most potent antagonist to estrogen"... he claims to have nothing but pure research behind his claims so maybe someone - SWALE? - could e-mail him and ask him as to his research sources):
http://youngagainproducts.com/articl...0for%20Men.htm
This guy also believes in DIM for controlling E2 and is definitely a
TRT supporter (though kind of out in left field in a lot of other areas that he pushes):
EDITED BY SWALE: WE ARE NOT GOING TO PROMOTE THIS GUY!
Anyway, while I admit that he does sell progesterone cream with his various products, he sells it for about 1/3 to 1/4th the price you see anywhere else on the Net.
Anyway, maybe one of our moderators might e-mail him and ask for some studies in regard to his strong position on progesterone being a valid estrogen antagonist???
Also, while not directly related to inhibition of estrogen or
DHT, I did find this study most interesting...
QUOTE
Anti-glucocorticoid effects of progesterone in vivo on rat adipose tissue metabolism.
Pedersen SB, Kristensen K, Richelsen B.
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Aarhus Amtssygehus, Aarhus University Hospital, DK-8000 Aarhus C., Denmark.
amtssp@aau.dk
Steroid hormones seem to be important for adipose tissue metabolism and accumulation. As progesterone has been suggested to modulate the glucocorticoid effects, the interactions between glucocortioid and progesterone on adipose tissue metabolism were investigated.Forty-eight male Wistar rats were adrenectomized and divided into four groups; controls (treated with vehicle only), dexamethasone treated (10 micro g per rat), progesterone treated (5mg per rat) and the last group received both dexamethasone and progesterone.The dexamethasone-treated group had a significant loss of body weight and smaller intra-abdominal fat depots compared to the control group in addition, dexamethasone increased LPL-activity and increased catecholamine stimulated lipolysis. When progesterone was given concomitantly the dexamethasone effects on adipose tissue mass, LPL-activity and lipolysis were blocked. When given alone progesterone had no influence on body weight, amount of adipose tissue, lipolysis or LPL-activity.These data indicate that progesterone acts as an anti-glucocorticoid in adipose tissue in vivo, thus attenuating the glucocorticoid effect on adipose tissue metabolism.
END QUOTE
At other sites I have found this language (but - frustratingly - no mention of the title of the clinical study, the authors, etc.)
QUOTE
In addition, a 1992
test found that men supplementing with natural progesterone cream experience remarkable improvements in the male menopause, mood, libido and DHEA.
END QUOTE
I don't know who Dr. Lam is, but he has this to say (which makes some sense as progesterone is also a male hormone that we males begin losing as we hit 40s and 50s):
QUOTE
In addition to
testosterone, men also make estrogen (primarily estradiol or E2) and progesterone in much smaller but significant amount. It is produced in the testes and in their adrenal glands. While the level of progesterone in male is significantly lower than in the female, some women's progesterone level fall below that of same-age men during menopause. The male hormone, testosterone, is an antagonist to estradiol (E2). Like progesterone, testosterone can stimulate new bone formation, increase bone density, and a lack of it causes osteoporosis. It is made from progesterone. Men normally continue to produce relatively normal
testosterone for their age well into there seventies. Contrary to common perception, testosterone does not cause prostate caner. Since progesterone has an antagonistic effect on estrogen, and estrogen is an antagonist to testosterone, application of progesterone cream will indirectly enhance the effect of testosterone. Large doses of progesterone inhibit sexual behavior in male, but physiological doses appear to have enhanced sexual drive. Clearly testosterone alone is not the only driver of sexual function in male or in female. All men over age 40 should consider natural progesterone replacement therapy, or even earlier if there is a history of prostate cancer or BPH (as we shall see later). The amount needed is 10 mg a day, approximately half that used in women. No rest day is needed, and men should apply it on a daily basis...
END QUOTE
If males normally produce progesterone and have higher levels of it when younger, why would conservative supplementation of it be risky?
Just in playing devil's advocate here, it kind of sounds like the old argument with testosterone "causing" prostate cancer... when the plain common sense of that staement was obviously false. Young men with tonsd of testosterone weren't getting cancer, it was us old geezers with real low testosterone - and high estrogen - that were getting prostate cancer.
And also the same argument can be made for prescription drugs: One must also appreciate that anti-aromatase drugs such as
Arimidex are currently sold by huge pharmaceutical companies at tremendous profit margins... and therefore one would tend to see the lack of large clinical studies on the efficiency of something such as progesterone....
Question to consider....
Does
TRT (of whatever form) possibly raise progesterone levels in males to normal ranges anyway, so that "progesterone supplementation" not only isn't necessary, but actually would end up causing excessive progesterone (with the various progestoerone-induced problems)???
Anyway, any links to any studies of progesterone use as relates in any way to either
TRT or cortisol suppression would be greatly appreciated!
Larry