ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

Manage iron deficiency anaemia

High Potency Vegetarian Iron with 5-MTHF

1 capsule daily

If with PMS and/or peri-menopausal

Vitex, Ginger & Withania to Increase Progesterone

1 tablet daily

Manage ongoing unresolving inflammation

Specialised Pro-Resolving Mediators ^[*]

1 capsule twice daily

Support women's gut, urogenital and overall health and wellbeing

Multistrain Probiotics with B12 and Folate for Women’s Multi Benefit Support

Complete the Detoxification Questionnaire

1 capsule daily

See Metagenics Clinical Detoxification Program protocol

Reduce environmental/lifestyle drivers see diet and lifestyle strategies for healthy hormonal balance

Wellness and Healthy Ageing Program

OR

Shake It Practitioner Weight Management program

Alphabetical Reference of Nutritional Support

Formula Catch Phrase

Key Benefits

Cinnamon Complex for Pelvic Congestion

TCM herbs in this formula are effective at resolving pelvic ‘stagnation’, including fibroids and related symptoms, such as large menstrual clotting. This formula has also shown to reduce plasma levels of LH, FSH and oestradiol.

High Potency Vegetarian Iron with 5-MTHF

Delivers iron in a bisglycinate form, with folate and B12 to provide the rate limiting nutrients for healthy red blood cell formation. Vegetarian and vegan friendly.

Indole-3-Carbinol

This active compound from the brassica family helps to correct the 2:16 OH oestrogen ratio, therefore supporting and up-regulating healthy oestrogen metabolism and detoxification enzymes for healthy hormone activity.

Magnesium and Broccoli for Women’s Health

Magnesium plays important roles in oestrogen detoxification in the liver and bowel, and deficiency can contribute to oestrogen excess via aromatisation. Blended with nutrients and broccoli, this combination is tailored to support healthy female hormonal metabolism and to correct hormonal imbalance and support wellbeing.

Soy, Methylating Nutrients & BCM-95™ Turmeric to Clear Oestrogen

A comprehensive herbal blend with nutrients to modulate all aspects of oestrogen production, signalling, metabolism and detoxification, in order to clear or decrease high oestrogen activity in the body, associated with conditions such as fibrocystic breast disease, breast cancer, endometriosis and uterine fibroids.

Specialised Pro-Resolving Mediators

SPMs are lipid mediators that promote resolution, reduce pain, encourage clearance of pathogens and mitigate pathological inflammation, without immunosuppression. SPMs regulate macrophage polarisation; triggering the switch from M1 (proinflammatory) to the M2 (anti-inflammatory) phenotype, therefore promoting resolution.

Vitex, Ginger & Withania to Increase Progesterone

A herbal and nutritional blend designed to manage the symptoms and causes of progesterone deficiency, working in both the brain and the body to provide effective relief for PMS, painful periods, irregular cycles and infertility.

Vitamin D3

Vitamin D acts to counter the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, growth factors and the inhibition of apoptosis associated with fibroid proliferation. Supplementation with vitamin D has been shown to arrest the growth of small burden fibroids and reduce disease progression.

Supportive Lifestyle Programs

Metagenics Clinical Detoxification Programs

Uterine fibroids have a link with oestrogen dominance, toxicity and insulin resistance. Female hormonal health is highly dependent on effective liver and bowel clearance of oestrogens (and other steroid hormones), as well as effective detoxification of environmental toxins. A comprehensive screening questionnaire to help assess the requirement for detoxification, and the most highly indicated Detoxification program for the patient. It is recommended to use before embarking on detoxification, and again upon completion and for ongoing screening of detoxification capability.

Shake It Practitioner Weight Management Program

There is growing evidence that obesity is a disorder of energy homeostasis, and that the metabolic set-point for overweight individuals is set to a higher level. The Shake It Practitioner Weight Management Program is a novel 3 phase program structure designed to prevent metabolic adaptation, reset the patient’s metabolic set point, and provide regular psychological breaks from active dieting to achieve sustained weight loss. The program provides supportive materials in order to implement behavioural change techniques and two diet options: Ketogenic (low carbohydrate, high fat), or low fat (low fat, liberal carbohydrate). The ketogenic diet is advised to optimally address insulin resistance.

Aetiology and Risk factors

Major causative factors and risk factors that can contribute to the incidence of uterine fibroids include

• Obesity, and associated insulin resistance.
• Immunological dysregulation i.e., inflammation, increased macrophage, prostaglandin, and lymphokine action; decreased T- and NK-cell responsiveness.
• Studies indicate that TCDD (dioxin) and formaldehyde (environmental toxicants), alter the action of oestrogen in reproductive organs and can increase incidence of uterine fibroids.
• Genetic predisposition (daughters of mothers having the disorder).
• Excessive consumption of red meat and ham has been associated with the presence of uterine fibroids.
• The fundamental underlying risk factor is "unopposed" oestrogen - i.e., increased oestrogen: progesterone ratio and increased levels of 16-hydroxy-oestrone.

Signs and Symptoms

Fibroids, particularly when small, may be entirely asymptomatic. Generally, symptoms relate to the location of the lesion and its size. Common symptoms include

• Abnormal gynaecological haemorrhage
• Infertility
• During pregnancy fibroids may cause miscarriage, bleeding, premature labour, etc.
• Sensation of fullness or pressure in lower abdomen
• Pelvic cramping or pain with periods
• Abdominal fullness
• Increase in urinary frequency
• Heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia), sometimes with the passage of blood clots
• Sudden, severe pain with pedunculated fibroids

Diet and Lifestyle

Guidelines that may assist in the management of uterine fibroids:

• Ensure the processes of oestrogen detoxification are optimal through consumption of indole-3-carbinol containing foods (e.g., broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and other brassicas).
• Obesity, and associated insulin resistance, may contribute to fibroids. A ketogenic fat loss diet may help to improve insulin sensitivity, correct blood glucose levels, reduce adipose tissue and spare skeletal protein reserves.
• Eliminate known food allergens. Some of the most common allergens are dairy, wheat, citrus, corn, soy, and fish.
• Minimise alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, refined foods, food additives, sugar, and saturated fats (meats and dairy products).
• Encourage an organic diet to avoid exogenous oestrogens found in oestrogen-fed animal produce and pesticide-sprayed fruits and vegetables.
• Increase intake of whole grains, fresh vegetables, essential fatty acids (cold-water fish, nuts, and seeds), and vegetable proteins (legumes such as soy). Include liberal amounts of liver-supporting foods such as beets, carrots, onions, garlic, dark leafy greens, artichokes, apples and lemons.