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We already know that bio-identical hormone replacement therapy at safe,
physiologic doses helps rebuild women's bones, protect them against heart
attacks, and maintain their mental function. But some very recent research
suggests that it may also protect lung function in post-menopausal women.
This new research builds on a study first published in 1996, when
researchers reported on experiments in which some young female rats had
their ovaries removed while others had otherwise-identical "sham"
operations in which the ovaries were left intact. As the rats with intact
ovaries matured and produced more ovarian hormones, their lungs developed
many more and smaller alveoli--the tiny "air sacs" that enable our lungs to
exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide and other waste gases. The rats whose
ovaries had been removed developed significantly larger alveoli, with less
total surface area.1
When it comes to alveoli, smaller and more are definitely better. With more
numerous, smaller alveoli, the total surface area of the lung avail-able
for gas exchange is greater, so lung function is better. The researchers
concluded that estrogen must have a beneficial effect on lung development.
At a scientific meeting in April 2004, two of the same researchers reported
that removal of ovaries from mature female mice resulted in a 45 percent
loss of the alveoli they had already developed, significantly reducing
their lung function. But this lost lung function was fully restored by
giving estrogen to the ovary-less mice.2 Specifically, they've discovered
that estrogens boost production of at least two crucial lung proteins: One
helps to build new alveoli, and the other stimulates alveoli to expel
carbon dioxide.3
Older women are more susceptible to some lung diseases than older men; 85
percent of non-smokers suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) are women. It makes sense that this can be at least partially
explained by the decline in estrogen after menopause. It also makes sense
for post-menopausal women with lung-function problems to try physiologic
doses of bio-identical estrogens (accompanied by progesterone) to combat
further decline.
Since there are estrogen (and other hormone) receptors on nearly every type
of body cell, it's highly likely that replacing low levels of bio-identical
estrogens (and other bio-identical hormones) will help maintain healthier
cells and tissues all over the body. After all, now that lungs are joining
brains, hearts, arteries, and bones on the list of cells and tissues
favorably influenced by bio-identical hormone replacement, can the rest of
our bodies be far behind? JVW
Citations available upon request and on the Nutrition & Healing website:
www.wrightnewsletter.com
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