[karenmc6]

** i am not a health professional, nor do i play one on tv - but i am married to one (ob/gyn) and i'm a pretty mean googler **

here's a quick estrogen primer (emphasis is mine):
Three steroid hormones-estradiol, estrone, and estriol-are known collectively by their function as estrogens. In postmenopausal women, following the decline of ovarian function, these estrogens are produced primarily in the adrenal glands.

The estrogenic potency of estradiol is 12 times that of estrone and 80 times that of estriol. Estradiol is synthesized from testosterone and androstenedione. Due to its potency, it plays a critical role in female sexual development, menstrual function, protein synthesis, cardiovascular function, bone formation and remodelling, cognitive function, emotional balance and other important health factors. It also may be the most stimulatory estrogen for promoting cell growth and proliferation.

After menopause, estrone becomes the primary estrogen as the ovary loses its ability to manufacture estradiol. Estrone is synthesized from androstenedione in the adrenal glands and from peripheral tissues by aromatization. Fat cells are especially rich in the aromatase enzyme that converts androstenedione to estrone. This explains why obese postmenopausal women often have higher circulating levels of estrogens.

Estriol is considered to be the mildest and briefest-acting of the three estrogens. Estriol is formed in the liver by conversion of either estradiol or estrone. Although there is evidence that a certain amount of estriol can be recirculated into the body via the liver or gut hydroly-sis, its conversion is believed to be more fixed than the other two estrogens, with a reduced ability to reconvert into more potent forms of estrogen.


since estrone is manufactured in the fat cells, it often lessens the menopausal symptoms of women with higher percentages of body fat - basically, leaner women have no additional estrogen stores, so when the ovaries quit estrogen production, these women experience more dramatic symptoms. as a matter of interest, estrone production does not begin during perimenopause, it's effects are just more pronounced. also, i haven't found any evidence that estrone production increases the incidence of abdominal fat in women, nor did i find that estrone is manufactured only in abdominal fat. some women do carry the majority of their fat in their abdomen, so it is very probable that the majority of estrone is manufactured in their abdomen which could be construed as a correlation. it's also possible that the this process is being confused with a very similar process that occurs in men. (and of which i know very little!)


as far as i can see, estrogen is neither manufactured or stored by muscle. however, a woman building muscle is generally decreasing fat stores which would affect the amount of estrone stores. whether this is a good thing or not, i really can't say. the research has fluctuated wildly over the years pro and con on ert (estrogen replacement therapy) with some of the major findings being a causative relationship between ert and breast cancer and the lack of heart protection in ert (unfortunately most women don't realize that cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer of women - almost 1/2 million a year - more than the next four causes combined - go red for women). also, it's been long known that resistence training is beneficial for improving bone density, even more so in conjunction with hormonal therapies.


i did find a few interesting studies:
Exercise reduces risk for breast cancer in postmenopausal women - pdf file 2004 study, check out page 4
Effects of Exercise Training and Hormone Replacement Therapy on Lean and Fat Mass in Postmenopausal Women - 2003 study
Effect of Physical Activity on Menopausal Symptoms in Non-Vigorously Active Postmenopausal Women - pdf file 2008 master thesis

i could probably be more helpful if you could provide more info on the article you were reading, kimble, or on the particular aspect of it you are interested.

oh, and i learned a lot too! karen