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This should probably go in the supplement section, but I figured I'd get more opinions in this forum.
Does Saw Palmetto increase estrogen production? Figuring that it fights against DHT - the reverse effect would be to produce more estrogen?
Anybody follow my train of thought here?
If so, to what effect are we looking at here?
Nope not at all the reason test turns into either dht or estrogen is because of enzymes in the blood.
the 5aa enzyme is responsible for turning test into dht
and the aromatize enzyme is responsible for converting test into estrogen.
Now saw palmetto work to attatch to the 5aa enzyme and block it from attaching to testosterone.
So if you block 5aa you are doing nothing to aromatize enzyme which still has its pre set limit.
Interesting - but I've also heard that Saw Palmetto is used for female hormone production?
That would actually be the 5-AR enzyme not 5aa; it removes the C4-5 double bond in testosterone by adding 2 hydrogens.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bryan2
Two Hydrogens = DiHydro + the Original Testosterone (DHT)
my bad 5ar enzyme
bumpy
it can lower your androgen to estrogen ratio which can have negative impacts.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bryan2
I see what your saying and it makes sense except for .....if the aromatize enzyme has a set limit...then that would mean no one would ever get gyno because only a specific amount is converted regardless of free testosterone.
exactly - although 5AR has no direct effect on test -> estrogen conversion, blocking the 5AR pathway would result (initially at least) in a rise in test levels which could result in a greater conversion to estro. There are also some DHT / SHBP interactions which might effect this ratioQuote:
it can lower your androgen to estrogen ratio which can have negative impacts
One of the listed sides for finasteride (also a 5AR antagonist) is gyno......