The hydroxylation of estradiol is one of the major routes of metabolism of the estrogen steroid hormone estradiol. It is hydroxylated into the catechol estrogens 2-hydroxyestradiol and 4-hydroxyestradiol and into estriol (16a-hydroxyestradiol). 2-hydroxyestradiol metabolite has several physiological consequences: the ability to influence intracellular signaling, adenohypophyseal hormone secretion, radical and quinone formation and inhibition of tumor formation.
Research and clinical studies show that the 2-hydroxylated estrogens (2-OH E2 and 2-OH E1) are a safer pathway of hydroxylation than the 4-hydroxyestrogens (4-OH E2 and 4-OH E1), which bind to and damage DNA, leading to mutations that are associated with increased breast cancer risk. If either 4-OH-E2 or 4-OH-E1 are higher than reference range, and not well methylated, this may indicate higher risk for DNA damage, mutations, and risk for developing breast cancer.
Hydroxylation of estrogens in the 2-position of estradiol (2-OH-E2) and estrone (2-OH-E1) is considered a safer pathway for metabolism than the 4-position hydroxylations of these estrogens. The 2-position hydroxylations (considered safer) are increased with cruciferous vegetables (and extracts of them) as well as iodine. The most commonly used are indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and its metabolite diindolylmethane (DIM). Iodine also increases the 2-hydroxylation of estrogens, with a slight increase in 4-hydroxylation. The more dangerous 4-hydroxylated estrogen metabolism is enhanced by exposure to environmental toxins, mostly petrochemical-based products but also heavy metals, that induce 4-hydroxylation pathway enzymes, and cause formation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) that co-oxidize the catechol estrogens to more dangerous estrogen quinones.
References:
Liehr JG. Is estradiol a genotoxic mutagenic carcinogen? Endocr Rev. 2000 Feb;21(1):40-54. doi: 10.1210/edrv.21.1.0386. PMID: 10696569.
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Research and clinical studies show that the 2-hydroxylated estrogens (2-OH E2 and 2-OH E1) are a safer pathway of hydroxylation than the 4-hydroxyestrogens (4-OH E2 and 4-OH E1), which bind to and damage DNA, leading to mutations that are associated with increased breast cancer risk. If either 4-OH-E2 or 4-OH-E1 are higher than reference range, and not well methylated, this may indicate higher risk for DNA damage, mutations, and risk for developing breast cancer.
Hydroxylation of estrogens in the 2-position of estradiol (2-OH-E2) and estrone (2-OH-E1) is considered a safer pathway for metabolism than the 4-position hydroxylations of these estrogens. The 2-position hydroxylations (considered safer) are increased with cruciferous vegetables (and extracts of them) as well as iodine. The most commonly used are indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and its metabolite diindolylmethane (DIM). Iodine also increases the 2-hydroxylation of estrogens, with a slight increase in 4-hydroxylation. The more dangerous 4-hydroxylated estrogen metabolism is enhanced by exposure to environmental toxins, mostly petrochemical-based products but also heavy metals, that induce 4-hydroxylation pathway enzymes, and cause formation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) that co-oxidize the catechol estrogens to more dangerous estrogen quinones.
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