-IBIS-1.5.0-
tx
reproductive system
fibrocystic breasts
nutrition

dietary guidelines

eating principles:
Increase consumption of complex carbohydrates and fiber: it has been found that women who have fewer than 3 bowel movements per week have a 4.5x greater risk of FBD than women having at least one bowel movement/day. (Marz, p. 435, 1997)
Vegan diet

therapeutic foods:
• Citrus peel
• Liver-cleansing foods: beets, carrots, artichokes, lemons, parsnips, dandelion greens, watercress, burdock root
• Foods rich in Magnesium, Beta carotene, Vitamins E and B-complex
• Turmeric used as a spice
• Foods high in omega-6 fatty acids: vegetable, nut, seed oils (evening primrose oil, flaxseed oil, black currant oil)

» Stagnant Liver Qi or Stagnancy in the Liver channel type:
Foods that invigorate the Qi, Liver foods, sour foods, Dispersing foods, foods that open channels

fresh juices:
• Carrot (Walker, p. 146)
• Carrot and spinach (Walker, p. 146)
• Carrot, beet, and cucumber (Walker, p. 146)
• Lemon juice in warm water

avoid:
Avoid exogenous estrogens: oral contraceptives and animal products with estrogen residues. Fibrocystic breast disease may be caused by excessive estrogenic stimulation of the breasts due to abnormal hormone levels or by an exaggerated response by hypersensitive tissues to normal hormone levels.
Avoid methylxanthines: coffee, black tea, chocolate, cola drinks. Women with FBD may have a genetically determined increased sensitivity to methylxanthines (Minton, J., Abou-Issa, H., Reiches, N., Roseman, J. Surgery 90:299-304, 1981; Ernster. Surgery 91(3):263-67, 1982)
• Estrogenic foods: animal products, apples, cherries, olives, plums, carrots, yams, nightshade family, peanuts, soy products, coconut, brown rice, barley, oats, wheat
• See Materia Medica: Foods that contain estrogen-like sterols
Meat, alcohol, hot sauces, spicy foods, fried foods, fatty foods, rich foods, salty foods, caffeine, pesticides


supplements

Vitamin E: 800 IU per day Vitamin E normalizes elevated FSH and LH levels commonly seen in FBD.
(Abrams, A. New Engl. J. Med. 272:1080-81, 1965)
Magnesium: 300 mg per day
Vitamin B6: (50 mg/day) Research has consistently shown the adverse effects of estrogen on Vitamin B6 function. Vitamin B6 is critical in the production of many proteins, prostaglandins and neurotransmitters in the body and also effects the activity of endorphins. Vitamin B6 is also necessary for the liver to properly process and excrete estrogens so a positive-feedback scenario can develop where estrogen levels continue to increase.
(Doll, H., et al. J. Royal College of General Practitioners 39:326, 364-68, Sept. 1989; Abraham, G., Hargrove, J. Infertility, 3(2):155-65, 1980)
Progesterone: Fibrocystic breast disease may be caused by excessive estrogenic stimulation of the breasts due to abnormal hormone levels or by an exaggerated response by hypersensitive tissues to normal hormone levels. The administration of natural progesterone is suggested by John Lee, MD to be a protective therapy that can reduce breast tenderness and fibrocystic changes.
Transdermal progesterone cream (450 mg P/oz) usage depends on current hormonal and menstrual status. The following are general recommendations that should be confirmed or modified through observation of patient's response and changing levels of absorption. Salivary hormonal testing may provide valuable information to help assess need for natural progesterone and to evaluate the amount of transdermal progesterone cream (450 mg P/oz) to use.
Women in their reproductive years:
Begin using transdermal progesterone cream (450 mg P/oz) after ovulation. Adjust the following recommendations to coincide with ovulation day.
Days 14 ( ovulation) - 20: use 1/4 teaspoon of transdermal progesterone cream (450 mg P/oz) twice a day.
Days 21-27: use 1/2 teaspoon transdermal progesterone cream (450 mg P/oz) twice a day.
Days 1-14: do not use transdermal progesterone cream (450 mg P/oz).
Flax oil: 2 Tbsp per day
Iodine SSKI (supersaturated solution of Potassium Iodine): 30 mg = 1 drop. Give 1-10 drops per day; Jonthan Wright says to start out with 6-8 drops/day, then cut back. This will have a definite effect on the estrogen quotient. Above 300 mg per day inhibits thyroid. (Marz, p. 436, 1997; Eskin, B. JAMA 200:115-19,1967)
Evening Primrose Oil: 1500 mg twice daily (Pashby, N. Lancet 2:373-77, 1984)
Vitamin A: 150,000 IU per day as trial (Band, P. Prev. Med. 13:549-54, 1984)
Vitamin B complex
Lactobacillus acidophilus, esp. if bowel problems are also present.
• B-complex (Marz, p. 436, 1997):
• Lipotropic factors (Marz, p. 436, 1997)


footnotes

Abraham, G., Hargrove, J. Infertility, 3(2):155-65, 1980.

Abrams, A. Use of Vitamin E in chronic cystic mastitis. New Engl. J. Med. 272:1080-81, 1965.
Abstract: 29 women with chronic FBD which was aggravated premenstrually took vitamin E 300 or 600iu daily for 3 months. 16 had moderate to complete symptom relief, the remaining 13 had palpable breast softening, with reduction of cyst size or complete elimination of cysts.

Band, P. Treatment of benign breast disease with Vitamin A. Prev. Med. 13:549-54, 1984. Abstract: 10 of 12 women with moderate to severe breast pain, which had not responded to mild painkillers or caffeine withdrawal, reported reduction in breast pain following supplementation with 150,000iu/day. In 5 patients breast masses decreased at least 50%. Two patients had to stop supplementation due to severe headaches and 3 had mild reactions, while 5 had no side effects. Patients who responded showed continued benefit at follow-up 8 months later, and side effects were rapidly reversed.

Doll, H., et al. Pyridoxine and the PMS: A randomized crossover trial. J. Royal College of General Practitioners 39:326, 364-68, Sept. 1989.

Ernster. Effects of a caffeine-free diet on FBD: a randomized trial Surgery 91(3):263-67, 1982.
Abstract: 158 women with FBD were randomly assigned to a diet free of methylxanthines or to a group receiving no dietary advice. Four months later there was a significant decrease in palpable breast findings in the caffeine-free group as compared to the controls. The diet was most effective in severe cases. The authors concluded that the improvement was minor and may be of little clinical significance. However, analysis of breast fluid after 4 months on the diet showed substantial levels of caffeine in many women assigned to the caffeine-free diet. Thus, the 25% improvement could have been better with tighter controls.

Eskin, B. Mammary gland dysplasia in iodine deficiency. JAMA 200:115-19,1967. Abstract: In a series of histologic studies, iodine deficiency was found to enhance responsiveness of rat breast tissue to infections of estrogen or testosterone. Breast changes in iodine deficiency rats were clearly distinguishable from those induced by sex hormones in the hypothyroid or euthyroid rat. Estrogen given to iodine deficiency rats resulted in lesions which resembled histologically human fibrocystic disease.
Minton, J., Abou-Issa, H., Reiches, N., Roseman, J. Clinical and biochemical studies on methylxanthine-related FBD. Surgery 90:299-304, 1981. Abstract: 85 women with FBD were studied. 45 stopped all methylxanthine consumption. Of these, 37 had a resolution of their disease, 7 were improved, and 1 was unchanged. 28 women decreased consumption by more than 1/2. Of these, 7 had a resolution of their disease, 14 were improved, and 7 were unchanged. 12 women continued methylxanthine consumption as before. Two had a resolution, 1 was improved, and 9 were unchanged. Women suffering from FBD were not found to be consuming more methylxanthines than women without the disease. Those with the disease were more likely than controls to have a family history of breast cancer or FBD. Breast tissue from women with the disease was significantly more sensitive to adenylate cyclase than normal breast tissue. It is thus suggested that women with FBD have a genetically determined increased sensitivity to methylxanthines.

Lee, John and Hopkins, Virginia. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause. Warner Books, NY: 1996.

Pashby, N. Clinical experience of drug treatment for mastalgia. Lancet 2:373-77, 1984. Abstract: 41 patients with cyclical breast symptoms were treated with EPO. After 2 months, significant improvement was observed in patients assessment of breast tenderness and nodularity, general well-being and irritability, and in physicians assessment of breast nodularity. There were no side-effects and responses were sustained for up to 18 months with continuing supplementation.