US Pharm. 2013;38(7):18.
Solna, Sweden—Estrogen supplementation may help prevent urinary tract infections—which have been associated with low estrogen levels—in postmenopausal women. A study from Karolinska Institute has found that estrogen stimulates the body’s production of antimicrobial peptides and strengthens the cells lining the bladder (which become fragile postmenopausally, affecting the ability to resist infection). Subjects were treated with estrogen for 14 days, after which cells excreted in the urine were examined. Estrogen repaired the damaged epithelium, making it harder for bacteria to break through and reach the underlying cells. “By treating postmenopausal women locally with estrogen…the body’s own defense against infection is improved, making women better suited to fight infections,” said lead researcher Dr. Annelie Brauner.
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