Phytoestrogens - need some help...

[Secrets]

Need some help from the "experts" here...

I've been using a multivitamin complex for a couple of months, and haven't thought much about what was in it - not smart... Here is the product: http://www.med-eq.com/html/forbrukerinfo/en_haar.htm

Well, it contains extracts of: red clove, soybeans and japanese knotweed (trans-resveratol).
These are all phytoestrogens (estrogens from plants) and contain isoflavones. I find that a bit worrying, so I am wondering:

A (and most important): Can these increase the estrogen levels in the body, and when combined with finasteride heighten the possibility of gynecomastia?
B. Screw up/alter the hormonal balance - disturb the effect of finasteride.

C. Actually be benefical when using finasteride - because they function as anti-estrogens in some tissue? (like breast tissue).

Here is a link: http://www.ifst.org/hottop34.htm

I find this phytoestrogen business very confusing, and don't want to take any chances (I am thinking about starting finasteride again), so I need some advice here...

 

[peter_]

Need some help from the "experts" here...

I've been using a multivitamin complex for a couple of months, and haven't thought much about what was in it - not smart... Here is the product: http://www.med-eq.com/html/forbrukerinfo/en_haar.htm

Well, it contains extracts of: red clove, soybeans and japanese knotweed (trans-resveratol).
These are all phytoestrogens (estrogens from plants) and contain isoflavones. I find that a bit worrying, so I am wondering:

A (and most important): Can these increase the estrogen levels in the body, and when combined with finasteride heighten the possibility of gynecomastia?
B. Screw up/alter the hormonal balance - disturb the effect of finasteride.

C. Actually be benefical when using finasteride - because they function as anti-estrogens in some tissue? (like breast tissue).

Here is a link: http://www.ifst.org/hottop34.htm

I find this phytoestrogen business very confusing, and don't want to take any chances (I am thinking about starting finasteride again), so I need some advice here...

My current picture:
Free testosterine (T) gets converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol (estrogen) (E). If you stop converting T to DHT with finasteride more estrogen will be produced. This lowers DHT/E level causes the side effects of finasteride. Phytoestrogens are similar to estrogens but much weaker, so if you take them they will bind the the estrogen recptors and the real estrogen can't bind to them anymore.
For a similar reason some DHT inhibitors as flax seed and beta sitosterol cause less side effects then finasteride. They reduce both DHT and E levels and therefore don't lower the DHT/E levels as much as finasteride does.
To conclude: phytoestrogens are a good thing.

 

[Siberian]

Can these increase the estrogen levels in the body, and when combined with finasteride heighten the possibility of gynecomastia?

The billions of supposed "transsexuals" who take herbals to INTENTIONALLY grow breasts generally report no effects whatsoever. Or at best, you hear "Well, maybe, kinda, I think they're .0001mm bigger today," etc.

The general consensus is in order to produce breast growth with phyoestrogens, you'd have to ingest so much that it would kill you first.