Effects of Health Supplements on HRT...

[whunder_stix]

Hello Girls! I posted here a semi-great while ago, regarding the Orchiectomy I had with Dr. Arnkoff. By no fault of his brilliant work, I had suffered from a number of hormonal issues subsequent to my Orchiectomy, and have since had the vast majority of those eradicated after only a brief period of treatment (in the form of estrogen/progesterone pellet implants) administered by Dr. John O'Dea in Los Angeles.

The question I am now having, particularly after noticing such great results so soon after my first treatment with Dr. O'Dea... is whether or not the supplements we take for general health can have implications (positive or negative) on our HRT regimens.

Specifically, I am interested in the following, due to the fact that they have both been found to "regulate" female hormones:

. Fish Oil (EPA/DHA) or, alternatively, Krill Oil
. Vitamin D3

Particularly in the case of Fish Oil, it has been found in some studies that fish oil can actually regulate female hormones by decreasing the number of estrogen receptors. Given that I have struggled with depression/anxiety in the past, as well as like to maintain my health in general and would like to preemptively postpone aging, I would like to continue taking Fish Oil, but this worries me. Does anyone here take Fish Oil along with Vitamin D3 or any other supplements? Can you lend any feedback on which ways, if any, this impacts your hormone regimens? Particularly if you are using Pellets (JennyGirl, I'm thinking you in particular...)

It certainly would be a shame if we had to sacrifice optimum health in an effort to maintain our feminization ideals. That is why I am hoping someone here can put my mind at ease. Is it possible that because we, as transgendered women, have particularly large amounts of estrogen going into our bodies, that even supplements that regulate estrogen or deplete estrogen receptors would be unable to hamper a great degree of the estrogen-related effects we are seeking to achieve?

Please let me know your thoughts/experiences!

Sincere Regards,
A.

[Rachel]

Great question, I take D3 and fish oil too and would like to now also.

[whunder_stix]

Great question, I take D3 and fish oil too and would like to know also.

Thank you for the response!

I suppose that begs the question... have you experienced feminization or general responsiveness to HRT that has, in your opinion, been less-than-stellar, or does it appear to be working as well for you as it would if nothing was potentially impeding its progression?

[Randi]

Decreasing the number of estrogen receptors?

Wherever did you hear of such a thing?

Particularly in the case of Fish Oil, it has been found in some studies that fish oil can actually regulate female hormones by decreasing the number of estrogen receptors.

[whunder_stix]

Decreasing the number of estrogen receptors?

Wherever did you hear of such a thing?

"People with hormonal imbalance or those undergoing hormone replacement therapy should use cautiously, as decreased estrogen receptor production (making it impossible to metabolize estrogen at healthy levels) has been associated with fish oil supplementation."

http://thedetoxdiva.com/fish-oils-a-dangerous-fantasy/

You can also find similar studies/anecdotes (also, separate studies relating to Astaxanthin, another supplement I had hoped to use regularly which has a synergistic effect with fish oil) detailing both a decrease in estrogen receptors and a reduction in overall serum estradiol levels.

The same can be said for D3 (not sure about the receptors, but for sure regarding the serum estradiol levels).

It's a shame that just about every supplement I want to take for immune/brain health seem inclined to have contraindications in HRT.

[Randi]

Ah yes.... a "Certified Clinical and Holistic Nutritionist and Health Coach".

[whunder_stix]

K, like I said, you can find similar studies all over the place. Not just from "holistic nutritionists". Because the FDA is such a maverick when it comes to dispensing accurate and unbiased medical information. 

Mod edit: keep it friendly thanks.

[Laurenza]

ok girls, please play nicely


the short answer to your question is no, fish oil and vit D will not noticeably affect your estrogen receptops and then will only be worth caution if you start consuming a less than safe dosage.

Vit D is mentioned as an affect on estrogen receptors because it circulates the body as a hormone, regulating body functions such as absorption of elements and minerals.

without getting out my university textbooks to reference and make a long winded point, bottom line is cis women take health supplements without any ill effects and more importantly you are not the first trans person to be on meds and take supplements and you wont be the last (heck my doc prescribed my hormones AND my supplements )

bottom line is if you dont go supplement crazy they shouldnt be cause for concern, and as always if you are worried ALWAYS consult your doctor first.

prob not the answer you want, but thats just my 2 cents worth xx

edit to say: i dont think using google or google scholar as a doctor service is healthy. i have known many people to get stressed by using google as a search feature for medical issues and end up with contradictory 'scholarly' justification. most if not all 'science' and 'medical' research is bias towards the companies and agenda's that are funding them, unless you live in a country where the vast majority of research is independently funded--and that country doesnt exist yet :-s

[jname]

Was you on HRT before Pellets and what dose was you on? It could be the delivery method. There's a discussion on the forums regarding nicotine affecting estrogen plasma levels in the blood, but it appears that's only the case if the HRT is administered orally.

[Jennygirl]

I took D3 and fish oil for a while and did not notice any hormonal implications with the supplements. I'd be very interested to hear what Dr. O'Dea has to say about it..

You wanna talk about "mavericks"?? Dr. O'Dea is about as maverick as it gets when it comes to hormones! And I love him for it.

Always happy to hear of another patient that he has helped. I started HRT with him and will forever refuse to get my HRT any other way than pellets... unless some sort of dire situation of course- but I don't see that happening.

I'm also glad to see that even after gonad removal you are quite pleased with his hormonal care. I never doubted him for a second, but had not heard firsthand of his care following t-factory removal. Thanks

[whunder_stix]

I took D3 and fish oil for a while and did not notice any hormonal implications with the supplements. I'd be very interested to hear what Dr. O'Dea has to say about it..

You wanna talk about "mavericks"?? Dr. O'Dea is about as maverick as it gets when it comes to hormones! And I love him for it.

Always happy to hear of another patient that he has helped. I started HRT with him and will forever refuse to get my HRT any other way than pellets... unless some sort of dire situation of course- but I don't see that happening.

I'm also glad to see that even after gonad removal you are quite pleased with his hormonal care. I never doubted him for a second, but had not heard firsthand of his care following t-factory removal. Thanks

You're quite welcome, Jenny! Although, I must say, it is really you whom deserves to be thanked. If it weren't for your posts here, I would have never discovered Dr. O'Dea at a time when my hormones were ALL THE (keeping it clean) OVER THE PLACE. Quite honestly, I always had difficulty striking an ideal balance in my hormones (perhaps that's why I'm so concerned with the effects of supplements - my hormonal system has always been fragile and reactionary) but after I had my Orchiectomy, Lord have mercy. (That shouldn't discourage anyone from undergoing Orchiectomy, especially performed by the great Dr. Arnkoff of Michigan, as it is only in a select few, to my understanding, that it negatively impacts the hormonal system.)

I went to O'Dea on the 25th of June (last month) and have already had more breast growth than I have had in my entire transition. I am not even kidding, no placebo (you can't really "placebo" incredible soreness and practically a cup size in increased growth, can you? Law of Attraction, perhaps, but not placebo...) And I am finally alleviated of the hot flashes I had been experiencing all along (I'm only 21, ya'll!) as well as a calmer mood overall (not indicated by being edited by Susans mods).

I look forward to seeing what other great effects these pellets have in store! I began my transition at 15, have taken every different type of HRT combination subsequently, had an Orchie hoping for better results, then tried every different type of hormone regimen again, and now I'm not even on BLOCKERS and my results in ONE WEEK are STILL better than I've had in the whole 6 years I've been at this. That's why I think I'll forgo the health supplements for the time-being, and resume them when I have achieved all the results I hope to achieve, then determining if I "regress" at all.

I also let O'Dea know you referred me, Jenny. He was very pleased, and seemed very fond of you.  

[whunder_stix]

ok girls, please play nicely


the short answer to your question is no, fish oil and vit D will not noticeably affect your estrogen receptops and then will only be worth caution if you start consuming a less than safe dosage.

Vit D is mentioned as an affect on estrogen receptors because it circulates the body as a hormone, regulating body functions such as absorption of elements and minerals.

without getting out my university textbooks to reference and make a long winded point, bottom line is cis women take health supplements without any ill effects and more importantly you are not the first trans person to be on meds and take supplements and you wont be the last (heck my doc prescribed my hormones AND my supplements )

bottom line is if you dont go supplement crazy they shouldnt be cause for concern, and as always if you are worried ALWAYS consult your doctor first.

prob not the answer you want, but thats just my 2 cents worth xx

edit to say: i dont think using google or google scholar as a doctor service is healthy. i have known many people to get stressed by using google as a search feature for medical issues and end up with contradictory 'scholarly' justification. most if not all 'science' and 'medical' research is bias towards the companies and agenda's that are funding them, unless you live in a country where the vast majority of research is independently funded--and that country doesnt exist yet :-s

The bolded I totally agree with, and I appreciate your post overall. It definitely helps set my mind at ease.