Study Interpretation by Dr. David Zava of ZRT Labs
“Experts” who are saying that synthetic progestins increase breast cancer risk are right, but we’ve known that since 2002. Unfortunately, these same “experts” are now claiming an association of natural progesterone with breast cancer by default. They espouse that there is no clinical evidence to show natural progesterone is any safer than synthetic progestins. About this they are dead wrong, and just not doing their homework. Natural progesterone has a much safer profile than all forms of synthetic progestins, not only for the breasts, but for nearly all tissues of the body, including the reproductive tissues, the cardiovascular system, and the brain. There is a plethora of published literature on this subject. The news media can’t
For those who are unsure about the striking differences in safety profiles of synthetic progestins vs natural progesterone as regards breast cancer risk, several clinical trials have clearly shown the superiority of natural progesterone.
In a 2005 review of clinical studies comparing synthetic progestins to natural progesterone, Campagnoli and coauthors (J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 96, 95-108) concluded that: “The balance of the in vivo evidence is that progesterone does not have a cancer-promoting effect on breast tissue. ……We therefore suggest that when HRT is indicated, preparations containing progesterone and not a synthetic progestin should be used, according to a sequential or cyclic-combined regimen. In this way the risk of endometrial cancer is minimized without increasing the risk of BC.”
In another 2005 clinical trial comparing synthetic progestins to natural progesterone, Fournier and coworkers (Int J Cancer 114, 448-454) found that: “The risk was significantly greater (p< 0.001) with HRT containing synthetic progestins than with HRT containing micronized progesterone, the relative risk being 1.4 and 0.9, respectively.” Yes, that’s right, progesterone users had a lower risk.
So why is the news media confusing synthetic progestins with natural progesterone? The truth is that it’s all about money, power, and who controls it. Nothing new. We all know that Big Pharma has a strangle hold on funding for universities, who gets grants, what gets published, whose opinions get press, the success of women’s health organizations and journals they represent, and how much money our federal agencies will make in the drug approval process. Don’t expect the news media to spend much time really looking at the truth about natural progesterone. They too are under Big Pharma’s umbrella.
Thank goodness women’s intuition that senses right from wrong. They, not Big Pharma, will ultimately decide what hormone products are best for them.
For those who are unsure about the striking differences in safety profiles of synthetic progestins vs natural progesterone as regards breast cancer risk, several clinical trials have clearly shown the superiority of natural progesterone.
In a 2005 review of clinical studies comparing synthetic progestins to natural progesterone, Campagnoli and coauthors (J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 96, 95-108) concluded that: “The balance of the in vivo evidence is that progesterone does not have a cancer-promoting effect on breast tissue. ……We therefore suggest that when HRT is indicated, preparations containing progesterone and not a synthetic progestin should be used, according to a sequential or cyclic-combined regimen. In this way the risk of endometrial cancer is minimized without increasing the risk of BC.”
In another 2005 clinical trial comparing synthetic progestins to natural progesterone, Fournier and coworkers (Int J Cancer 114, 448-454) found that: “The risk was significantly greater (p< 0.001) with HRT containing synthetic progestins than with HRT containing micronized progesterone, the relative risk being 1.4 and 0.9, respectively.” Yes, that’s right, progesterone users had a lower risk.
So why is the news media confusing synthetic progestins with natural progesterone? The truth is that it’s all about money, power, and who controls it. Nothing new. We all know that Big Pharma has a strangle hold on funding for universities, who gets grants, what gets published, whose opinions get press, the success of women’s health organizations and journals they represent, and how much money our federal agencies will make in the drug approval process. Don’t expect the news media to spend much time really looking at the truth about natural progesterone. They too are under Big Pharma’s umbrella.
Thank goodness women’s intuition that senses right from wrong. They, not Big Pharma, will ultimately decide what hormone products are best for them.