Thread: Estrogen Is The Enemy Of Fat Loss

Myth: Estrogen Is The Enemy Of Fat Loss

Estrogen tends to be best known as the female hormone because women have higher levels than men. Somewhere along the way, estrogen got associated with increased body fat. There are at least two possible theories for this connection:

First, fat tissue secretes estrogen. As you gain fat, your estrogen levels rise, which causes an imbalance in the ratio between estrogen and other hormones such as progesterone.

Elevated estrogen also inhibits thyroid function (3). This is bad news because thyroid hormone is necessary for a healthy metabolic rate. When thyroid hormone is reduced, people feel tired and sluggish, which makes them expend less energy so that they burn fewer calories daily. Fat gain often occurs, which raises estrogen again—and you can see it’s a vicious cycle.

Second, women have more body fat than men. Women also have higher estrogen levels, so it seems logical that higher estrogen is the cause of greater fat deposition. There’s some truth to this but it’s not the same as saying estrogen is the enemy of fat loss. In fact, estrogen is actually a key fat burning hormone!

Estrogen increases activity of hormone sensitive lipase (HSL), which mobilizes fat so the body can use it for energy. At the same time, estrogen decreases the activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), which stores fat. HSL activity occurs most often in response to exercise, and having balanced estrogen levels basically helps this exercise phenomenon become more powerful and occur more often.

Another way estrogen is beneficial for body composition is that it stimulates the production of growth hormone. GH upregulates fat burning, while inhibiting the uptake of glucose by fat tissues. One reason high-intensity exercise is so useful for fat loss is that it triggers a huge increase in GH and it just so happens that women have a higher release of GH in response to intense exercise than men, likely due to their higher estrogen levels (4).

The key is that estrogen levels need to be balanced. For women, too little estrogen will lead to poor bone health, fat gain around the abdomen (as is seen in post-menopausal women), and infertility (5). Men also require a small amount of estrogen, however, it’s unlikely that any man has ever suffered from too little estrogen.

Too much estrogen is s a much bigger problem for men. Excessive amounts of estrogen are due to a poor diet, endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure (BPA), or excess body fat (remember fat secretes estrogen) and are associated with a number of health problems including obesity.

Take Away: The role of estrogen in the body (especially the female body) is way more complicated than it seems.

References
1. West, D., Kujbida, G., et al. Resistance Exercise-Induced Increases in Putative Anabolic Hormones Do Not Enhance Muscle Protein Synthesis of Intracellular Signaling In Young Men. 2009. Journal of Physiology. 587(21), 5239-5247.

2. West, D., Burd, N., et al. Elevations in Ostensibly Anabolic Hormones with Resistance Exercise Enhance Neither Training-Induced Muscle Hypertrophy Nor Strength of the Elbow Flexors. 2010. Journal of Applied Physiology. 108, 60-67.

3. Frank, A., et al. The role of hypothalamic estrogen receptors in metabolic regulation. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology. 2014. 35(4):550-7.

4. Ignacio, D., et al. Thyroid hormone and estrogen regulate exercise-induced growth hormone release. PLOS One. 2015. 10(4):e0122556.

5. Lizcano, F., Guzman, G. Estrogen Deficiency and the Origin of Obesity during Menopause. Biomedical Research International. 2014. 2014:757461.

6. Staples, A., et al. Carbohydrate does not augment exercise-induced protein accretion versus protein alone. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 2011. 43(7):1154-61.

7. Aragon, A., Schoenfeld, B. Nutrient Timing Revisited: Is There a Post-Exercise Anabolic Window? Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2013. 10(5).

Originally Posted by thebear

Myth: Estrogen Is The Enemy Of Fat Loss

Estrogen tends to be best known as the female hormone because women have higher levels than men. Somewhere along the way, estrogen got associated with increased body fat. There are at least two possible theories for this connection:

First, fat tissue secretes estrogen. As you gain fat, your estrogen levels rise, which causes an imbalance in the ratio between estrogen and other hormones such as progesterone.

Elevated estrogen also inhibits thyroid function (3). This is bad news because thyroid hormone is necessary for a healthy metabolic rate. When thyroid hormone is reduced, people feel tired and sluggish, which makes them expend less energy so that they burn fewer calories daily. Fat gain often occurs, which raises estrogen again—and you can see it’s a vicious cycle.

Second, women have more body fat than men. Women also have higher estrogen levels, so it seems logical that higher estrogen is the cause of greater fat deposition. There’s some truth to this but it’s not the same as saying estrogen is the enemy of fat loss. In fact, estrogen is actually a key fat burning hormone!

Estrogen increases activity of hormone sensitive lipase (HSL), which mobilizes fat so the body can use it for energy. At the same time, estrogen decreases the activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), which stores fat. HSL activity occurs most often in response to exercise, and having balanced estrogen levels basically helps this exercise phenomenon become more powerful and occur more often.

Another way estrogen is beneficial for body composition is that it stimulates the production of growth hormone. GH upregulates fat burning, while inhibiting the uptake of glucose by fat tissues. One reason high-intensity exercise is so useful for fat loss is that it triggers a huge increase in GH and it just so happens that women have a higher release of GH in response to intense exercise than men, likely due to their higher estrogen levels (4).

The key is that estrogen levels need to be balanced. For women, too little estrogen will lead to poor bone health, fat gain around the abdomen (as is seen in post-menopausal women), and infertility (5). Men also require a small amount of estrogen, however, it’s unlikely that any man has ever suffered from too little estrogen.

Too much estrogen is s a much bigger problem for men. Excessive amounts of estrogen are due to a poor diet, endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure (BPA), or excess body fat (remember fat secretes estrogen) and are associated with a number of health problems including obesity.

Take Away: The role of estrogen in the body (especially the female body) is way more complicated than it seems.

References
1. West, D., Kujbida, G., et al. Resistance Exercise-Induced Increases in Putative Anabolic Hormones Do Not Enhance Muscle Protein Synthesis of Intracellular Signaling In Young Men. 2009. Journal of Physiology. 587(21), 5239-5247.

2. West, D., Burd, N., et al. Elevations in Ostensibly Anabolic Hormones with Resistance Exercise Enhance Neither Training-Induced Muscle Hypertrophy Nor Strength of the Elbow Flexors. 2010. Journal of Applied Physiology. 108, 60-67.

3. Frank, A., et al. The role of hypothalamic estrogen receptors in metabolic regulation. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology. 2014. 35(4):550-7.

4. Ignacio, D., et al. Thyroid hormone and estrogen regulate exercise-induced growth hormone release. PLOS One. 2015. 10(4):e0122556.

5. Lizcano, F., Guzman, G. Estrogen Deficiency and the Origin of Obesity during Menopause. Biomedical Research International. 2014. 2014:757461.

6. Staples, A., et al. Carbohydrate does not augment exercise-induced protein accretion versus protein alone. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 2011. 43(7):1154-61.

7. Aragon, A., Schoenfeld, B. Nutrient Timing Revisited: Is There a Post-Exercise Anabolic Window? Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2013. 10(5).

This is some powerful information! Thanks


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Originally Posted by 1BraveHeart

This is some powerful information! Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sharing is caring

Man I needed too read this. Kudos.

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Everyone seems to have this opinion about estrogen, but estrogen can have a lot of positive benefits, so I always tell people not to be so quick to add an AI or SERM to their cycle. This is from William Llewellyn's Anabolics book.

Estrogen Aromatization

Testosterone is the primary substrate used in the male body for the synthesis of estrogen (estradiol), the principal female sex hormone. Although the presence of estrogen may seem quite unusual in men, it is structurally very similar to testosterone. With a slight alteration by the enzyme aromatase, estrogen is produced in the male body. Aromatase activity occurs in various regions of the male body, including adipose,22 liver,23 gonadal,24 central nervous system,25 and skeletal muscle26 tissues. In the context of the average healthy male, the amount of estrogen produced is generally not very significant to one's body disposition, and may even be beneficial in terms of cholesterol values (See Side Effects: Cardiovascular Disease). However, in larger amounts it does have potential to cause many unwanted effects including water retention, female breast tissue development (gynecomastia), and body fat accumulation. For these reasons, many focus on minimizing the build-up or activity of estrogen in the body with aromatase inhibitors such as Arimidex and Cytadren, or antiestrogens such as Clomid or Nolvadex, particularly at times when gynecomastia is a worry or the athlete is attempting to increase muscle definition.


We must, however, not be led into thinking that estrogen serves no benefit. It is actually a desirable hormone in many regards. Athletes have known for years that estrogenic steroids are the best mass builders, but it is only recently that we are finally coming to understand the underlying mechanisms why. It appears that reasons go beyond the simple size, weight, and strength increases that one would attribute to estrogen-related water retention, with this hormone actually having a direct effect on the process of anabolism. This is manifest through increases in glucose utilization, growth hormone secretion, and androgen receptor proliferation.


Glucose Utilization and Estrogen


Estrogen may playa very important role in the promotion of an anabolic state by affecting glucose utilization in muscle tissue. This occurs via an altering of the level of available glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, an enzyme directly tied to the use of glucose for muscle tissue growth and recuperation.27 28 More specifically, G6PD is a vital part of the pentose phosphate pathway, which is integral in determining the rate nucleic acids and lipids are to be synthesized in cells for tissue repair. During the period of regeneration after skeletal muscle damage, levels of G6PD are shown to rise dramatically, which is believed to represent a mechanism for the bo.dy to enhance recovery when needed. Surprisingly, we find that estrogen is directly tied to the level of G6PD that is to be made available to cells in this recovery window.
The link between estrogen and G6PD was established in a study demonstrating levels of this dehydrogenase enzyme to rise after administration of testosterone
propionate. The investigation further showed that the aromatization of testosterone to estradiol was directly responsible for this increase, and not the androgenic action of this steroid.29 The non-aromatizable steroids dihydrotestosterone and fluoxymesterone were tested alongside testosterone propionate, but failed to duplicate the effect of testosterone. Furthermore, the positive effect of testosterone propionate was blocked when the aromatase inhibitor 4-hydroxyandrostenedione (formestane) was added, while 17-beta estradiol administration alone caused a similar increase in G6PD to testosterone propionate.The inactive estrogen isomer 17alpha estradiol, which is unable to bind the estrogen receptor, failed to do anything. Further tests using testosterone propionate and the anti-androgen flutamide showed that this drug also did nothing to block the positive action of testosterone, establishing it as an effect independent of the androgen receptor.


Estrogen and GH/IGF·l


Estrogen may also play an important role in the production of growth hormone and IGF-1. IGF-1 (insulin-: like growth factor) is an anabolic hormone released in the liver and various peripheral tissues via the stimulus of growth hormone (See Drug Profiles: Growth Hormone). IGF-1 is responsible for the anabolic activity of growth hormone such as increased nitrogen retention/protein synthesis and cell hyperplasia (proliferation). One of the first studies to bring this issue to our attention looked at I the effects of the anti-estrogen tamoxifen on IGF-1 levels, demonstrating it to have a suppressive effect.30 A second, perhaps more noteworthy, study took place in 1993, which looked at the effects of testosterone replacement therapy on GH and IGF-1 levels alone, and compared them to the effects of testosterone combined again with tamoxifen.3' When tamoxifen was given, GH and IGF-l levels were notably suppressed, while both values were elevated with the administration of testosterone enanthate alone. Another study has shown 300 mg of testosterone enanthate weekly to cause a slight IGF-l increase in normal men. Here the 300 mg of testosterone ester caused an elevation of estradiol levels, which would be expected at such a dose. This was compared to the effect of the same dosage of nandrolone decanoate; however, this steroid failed to produce the same increase. This result is quite interesting, especially when we note that estrogen levels were actually lowered32 when this steroid was given. Yet another demonstrated that GH and IGF-l secretion is increased with testosterone administration on males with delayed puberty, while dihydrotestosterone (non-aromatizable) seems to suppress GH and IGF-l secretion.33

Estrogen and the Androgen Receptor


It has also been demonstrated that estrogen can increase the concentration of androgen receptors in certain tissues. This was shown in studies with rats, which looked at the effects of estrogen on cellular androgen receptors in animals that underwent orchiectomy (removal of testes, often done to diminish endogenous androgen production). According to the study, administration of estrogen resulted in a striking 4800/0 increase in methyltrienolone (a potent oral androgen often used to reference receptor binding in studies) binding in the levator ani muscle.34 The suggested explanation is that estrogen must either be directly stimulating androgen receptor production, or perhaps diminishing the rate of receptor breakdown. Although the growth of the levator ani muscle is commonly used as a reference for the anabolic activity of steroid compounds, it is admittedly a sex organ muscle, and different from skeletal muscle tissue in that it possesses a much higher concentration of androgen receptors. This study, however, did look at the effect of estrogen in fast-twitch skeletal muscle tissues (tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus) as well, but did not note the same increase as the levator ani. Although discouraging at first glance, the fact that estrogen can increase androgen receptor binding in any tissue remains an extremely significant finding, especially in light of the fact that we now know androgens to have some positive effects on muscle growth that are mediated outside of muscle tissue.
Estrogen and Fatigue
"Steroid Fatigue" is a common catchphrase these days, and refers to another important function of estrogen in both the male and female body, namely its ability to promote wakefulness and a mentally alert state. Given the common availability of potent third-generation aromatase inhibitors, bodybuilders today are (at times) noticing more extreme estrogen suppression than they had in the past. Often associated with this suppression is fatigue. Under such conditions, the athlete, though on a
productive cycle of drugs, may not be able to maximize his or her gains due to an inability to train at full vigor.This effect is sometimes also dubbed "steroid lethargy." The reason is that estrogen plays an important supporting role in the activity of serotonin. Serotonin is one of the body's principle neurotransmitters, vital to mental alertness and the sleep/wake cycle.35 36 Interference with this neurotransmitter is also associated with chronic fatigue syndrome,37 38 so we can see how vital it is to fatigue specifically. Estrogen suppression in menopause has also been associated with fatigue,39 as has the clinical use of newer (more potent) aromatase inhibitors like anastrozole,4o letrozole,41 exemestane,42 and fadrozole43 in some patients. These things may be important to consider when planning your next cycle. Although not everyone notices this problem when estrogen is low, for those that do, a little testosterone or estrogen can go a long way in correcting this. It is also of note that the use of strictly non-aromatizable steroids sometimes causes this effect as well, likely due to the suppression of natural testosterone production (cutting off the main substrate used by the male body to make estrogen).


Anti-Estrogens and the Athlete


So what does this all mean to the bodybuilder looking to gain optimal size? Basically I think it calls for a cautious approach to the use of estrogen maintenance drugs if mass is the key objective (things change, of course, if we are talking about cutting). Obviously, anti-estrogens
should be used if there is a clear need for them due to the onset of estrogenic side effects, or at the very least, the drugs being administered should be substituted for nonestrogenic compounds. Gynecomastia is certainly an unwanted problem for the steroid user, as are noticeable fat mass gains. But if these problems have not presented themselves, the added estrogen due to a cycle of testosterone or Dianabol, for example, might indeed be aiding in the buildup of muscle mass, or keeping you energetic. An individual confident they will notice, or are not prone to getting, estrogenic side effects, may therefore want to hold off using estrogen maintenance drugs so as to achieve the maximum possible gains in tissue mass.

Originally Posted by thebear

Myth: Estrogen Is The Enemy Of Fat Loss

Estrogen tends to be best known as the female hormone because women have higher levels than men. Somewhere along the way, estrogen got associated with increased body fat. There are at least two possible theories for this connection:

First, fat tissue secretes estrogen. As you gain fat, your estrogen levels rise, which causes an imbalance in the ratio between estrogen and other hormones such as progesterone.

Elevated estrogen also inhibits thyroid function (3). This is bad news because thyroid hormone is necessary for a healthy metabolic rate. When thyroid hormone is reduced, people feel tired and sluggish, which makes them expend less energy so that they burn fewer calories daily. Fat gain often occurs, which raises estrogen again—and you can see it’s a vicious cycle.

Second, women have more body fat than men. Women also have higher estrogen levels, so it seems logical that higher estrogen is the cause of greater fat deposition. There’s some truth to this but it’s not the same as saying estrogen is the enemy of fat loss. In fact, estrogen is actually a key fat burning hormone!

Estrogen increases activity of hormone sensitive lipase (HSL), which mobilizes fat so the body can use it for energy. At the same time, estrogen decreases the activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), which stores fat. HSL activity occurs most often in response to exercise, and having balanced estrogen levels basically helps this exercise phenomenon become more powerful and occur more often.

Another way estrogen is beneficial for body composition is that it stimulates the production of growth hormone. GH upregulates fat burning, while inhibiting the uptake of glucose by fat tissues. One reason high-intensity exercise is so useful for fat loss is that it triggers a huge increase in GH and it just so happens that women have a higher release of GH in response to intense exercise than men, likely due to their higher estrogen levels (4).

The key is that estrogen levels need to be balanced. For women, too little estrogen will lead to poor bone health, fat gain around the abdomen (as is seen in post-menopausal women), and infertility (5). Men also require a small amount of estrogen, however, it’s unlikely that any man has ever suffered from too little estrogen.

Too much estrogen is s a much bigger problem for men. Excessive amounts of estrogen are due to a poor diet, endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure (BPA), or excess body fat (remember fat secretes estrogen) and are associated with a number of health problems including obesity.

Take Away: The role of estrogen in the body (especially the female body) is way more complicated than it seems.

References
1. West, D., Kujbida, G., et al. Resistance Exercise-Induced Increases in Putative Anabolic Hormones Do Not Enhance Muscle Protein Synthesis of Intracellular Signaling In Young Men. 2009. Journal of Physiology. 587(21), 5239-5247.

2. West, D., Burd, N., et al. Elevations in Ostensibly Anabolic Hormones with Resistance Exercise Enhance Neither Training-Induced Muscle Hypertrophy Nor Strength of the Elbow Flexors. 2010. Journal of Applied Physiology. 108, 60-67.

3. Frank, A., et al. The role of hypothalamic estrogen receptors in metabolic regulation. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology. 2014. 35(4):550-7.

4. Ignacio, D., et al. Thyroid hormone and estrogen regulate exercise-induced growth hormone release. PLOS One. 2015. 10(4):e0122556.

5. Lizcano, F., Guzman, G. Estrogen Deficiency and the Origin of Obesity during Menopause. Biomedical Research International. 2014. 2014:757461.

6. Staples, A., et al. Carbohydrate does not augment exercise-induced protein accretion versus protein alone. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 2011. 43(7):1154-61.

7. Aragon, A., Schoenfeld, B. Nutrient Timing Revisited: Is There a Post-Exercise Anabolic Window? Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2013. 10(5).

This was a good read Bear. I have actually noticed I definitely enjoy having E2 then I used to.

I never let my E2 get high out of fear.

Now that I have been anywhere between 55-65, I have felt great. I also have had a much easier time dropping BF %.

Thanks for the knowledge!


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