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Breast tissue is composed of epithelial and stromal cells (fibroglandular tissue) and fat (in men and women). Mammographic density (MD) is the relative amount of fibroglandular tissue to fat, and is often reported as percentage mammographic density (PMD) that is a proportion of the dense tissue area over the total breast area,. The authors of the cited Clinical Trial results themselves cite a study where 18 mo tamoxifen reduced PMD by 4.4% versus placebo, and here the results were identical (-4.4% versus placebo). The green tea extract formulation was: daily 4 decaffeinated GTE capsules containing 1,315 mg total catechins, including 843 mg epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) for 12 months.I’m wondering if all the evidence of combined therapy and being able to drop total SERM dosage crosses over to our needs. So they found the combination works better and allows the patient to lower their tamoxifen dose...great that’s less sides. But does it work for our purposes or is this combo only effective for fighting cancer not stopping breast gland growth?
It is most plausible that the mechanism is mediated by endogenous estrogen levels, as these circulating hormones would be higher in the younger (50-55) versus older postmenopausal women.
In breast tissues, raloxifene acts as an estrogen receptor antagonist to attenuate the estrogen-dependent proliferative effects of epithelial cell expansion.
In gynecomastia, the concern is the growth of the fibroglandular tissue and is caused by an increase in the estrogen to androgen ratio.
From all this, it can be tempting suppose that green tea extracts may combat AAS-induced gyno (I am guilty of this sort of supposition with antiglucocorticoid activity of particular AAS and aggression). The question then becomes - since if these extracts work for gyno, then they do so by modulating estrogen - why it is thought that green tea extracts would be superior versus proven SERMs (ie, ralox) with proven favorable effects on bone mineral density, serum lipids, and collagen?