Nothing on this website constitutes the practice of medicine, nor can it be used to treat or diagnose any health issue or concern. This website and its content is not to be used in place of the information provided by your physician or healthcare professional. (1) Iron is stored by a protein called ferritin, which is made by the liver, and so if ferritin is low, then... Iron deficiency anemia is a common condition, prevalent in around 10% of non-Hispanic white women and nearly 20 percent of black and Mexican-American women. (1) Bile acids are made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, but when the gallbladder has been removed, there is no place for... About the only independent variable appearing to cause permanent change in the gut is dietary change, but did you know that your microbiome and microflora are drug manufacturers? Dysbiosis is a symptom of an imbalance that likely has a multifactorial etiology that requires the assistance of a naturopathic physician or other integrative medicine practitioner. However, an imbalance, particularly estrogen dominance, where estrogen levels are relatively high compared to other hormones like progesterone or testosterone, can lead to various health problems. While stress doesn’t directly increase estrogen levels, it can disrupt the delicate balance of hormones in the body. Estrogen dominance refers to a relative imbalance where estrogen levels are high compared to other hormones like progesterone. For women, calcium D-glucarate may balance their hormones during menopause, when estrogen and testosterone levels decline 1. Estrogen dominance describes a state in which estrogenic activity is disproportionately high relative to progesterone, producing a characteristic cluster of symptoms that affect mood, menstrual health, body composition, and hormone-sensitive tissue. It is driven not just by excess estrogen production but by impaired estrogen detoxification, progesterone deficiency, and the metabolic and gut factors that determine how estrogen is produced, metabolized, and cleared. It plays an important role in Phase 2 detoxification, which is where the liver packages toxins and hormones so they can be safely removed. DIM helps activate enzymes involved in Phase 1 detoxification, which is the first step the liver uses to prepare hormones and toxins for elimination. A healthy liver is essential for optimal metabolism, and hormonal imbalances can contribute to weight gain. While Calcium D Glucarate isn’t a direct weight loss supplement, it may indirectly support weight management by promoting healthy liver function and hormone balance. It is often used to support healthy estrogen metabolism and manage conditions related to estrogen dominance, such as PMS or fibroids. The effects are more subtle, affecting the downstream metabolism of hormones rather than blocking their production or direct action. This allows the body to properly eliminate excess estrogen through the liver and digestive system. DIM helps influence the way estrogen is metabolized, which is why it is commonly used in hormone balance protocols in functional medicine. DIM is most commonly used to support healthy estrogen metabolism. While Calcium D Glucarate primarily affects estrogen metabolism, its effect on DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is less direct. Symptoms of estrogen dominance in women can include irregular periods, PMS, weight gain, bloating, fibroids, and mood swings. This whole process can lead to the promotion of enterohepatic recirculation, wherein a toxic soup of toxins, hormones, and even drugs circulates freely throughout the body. But the danger here is that if there is excessive beta-glucuronidase in the body due to pathogenic bacteria having taken ahold in the gut, then these end-metabolites of estrogen can be cleaved at the junction of (soon-to-be-excreted) toxin, and glucuronic acid. (2, 3) All steroid hormones, for example, are detoxified in the liver via glucuronidation. Factors that can impair liver function, such as alcohol abuse or certain medications, can contribute to estrogen dominance. Addressing progesterone deficiency is the most commonly overlooked and most impactful single intervention in estrogen dominance management. Progesterone is the primary counter-regulatory hormone to estrogen, balancing estrogen's proliferative effects on uterine and breast tissue. A woman with normal estradiol and significantly depleted progesterone will have all the clinical features of estrogen dominance despite estrogen that appears within range on a standard blood draw. At Premier IFM, we use advanced functional medicine testing to understand how your hormones, detox pathways, and metabolism are functioning. If you suspect hormone imbalance may be affecting your health, the next step is proper evaluation and testing. This phase prepares hormones like estrogen for elimination.
