Hormones affect women on a life-long basis. Some say that trigger finger is caused by a lack of estrogen. However, equol is said to compensate for the lack of estrogen, but can it really improve the condition?
When it first went on sale in Japan, the messages were mostly about supplementing estrogen deficiency, but now we often see phrases about beauty purposes. I'm sure that those reading this article are confused by the information online.
Judging from the paper, it seems that improvement can be expected if trigger finger is caused by a decrease in estrogen.
What you'll learn in this article
- The role of equol in compensating for estrogen deficiency
- Important points to note before taking commercially available equol
The role of equol in compensating for estrogen deficiency
Equol is a compound that acts as a substitute for estrogen. It is produced from daidzein, a soy isoflavone, by the action of intestinal bacteria.
Equol, produced from soybeans, acts similarly to estrogen (female hormone) when it binds to the estrogen receptor ( ERβ ). It is effective in preventing menopausal disorders, osteoporosis, arteriosclerosis, improving hair loss, and improving skin quality. * 1
On the other hand, it is known that simply consuming large amounts of soy as food is not effective.
This is because only about 50% of people in countries where soy is commonly consumed (China and Japan) and about 30% of Westerners are able to produce equol, so even if you eat soy, you do not necessarily reap its benefits. * 1 *2
Therefore, supplements that allow easy intake of equol are expected to be useful for women who suffer from menopausal hot flashes.
∗ 1 Wulf H. Utian et al. S-equol: A Potential Nonhormonal Agent for Menopause-Related Symptom Relief https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2014.5006
∗ 2Journal of the Japanese Society of Women's Health, 20: 313-332, 2012
Why it is effective for joint pain caused by estrogen deficiency, such as menopausal symptoms
If the repair of tendons and conjunctiva is not working properly due to a lack of estrogen, equol may be able to improve the situation, since estrogen is present in large amounts in the synovial membranes of tendon sheaths, ligaments, and joint capsules.
Estrogen and tendons
For estrogen to exert its effects, it must bind to the estrogen receptor (ER).
There are two types of estrogen receptors.
・ERα : Present in the uterus, ovaries, mammary glands, etc.
・ERβ : Present in bones, brain, liver, etc.
The key point is that ERβ is found in large amounts in the synovial membranes of tendon sheaths, ligaments, and joint capsules, meaning that the tendon sheaths are affected by estrogen just like the endometrium.
When estrogen is lacking
In other words, just as the endometrium thickens when estrogen levels decrease, it is thought that the synovial membrane also thickens in the same way. When the synovial membrane thickens, the tunnel through which the finger tendons pass becomes narrower, making inflammation more likely to occur.
The reason why your hands become stiff and your body feels heavy before your period is because the synovial membrane expands and thickens due to a decrease in estrogen.*3
To sum up
- Estrogen receptors are abundant in the tendon sheath
- When estrogen is lacking, the tendon sheath thickens and the tendon becomes difficult to move through.
Equol appears to be effective for trigger finger, which is caused by a lack of estrogen. There is still little research, so we look forward to future research results.
Important points to note before taking commercially available equol
It is important to know whether estrogen is really the cause. If estrogen is administered because of an estrogen deficiency, there is a risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer, but equol is welcomed because it has a low risk of these.
However, there is one point of concern: the fact that muscle-focused approaches are more effective in improving the period when estrogen deficiency occurs.
Book created based on "Hand Disorders of Musicians" (by Naotaka Sakai)
It may have just been that she wasn't lacking in estrogen. However, according to Naotaka Sakai, a doctor who specializes in musicians, even musicians who use their hands heavily only suffer from tendonitis in 30% of cases. 40% of the pain is caused by muscle fatigue, and there are almost no cases where surgery is required.
Here 's how experts treat trigger finger from the lower body.
Trigger finger is considered to be tendonitis of the finger, but it cannot be determined that a lack of estrogen is the sole cause. First, see a doctor to determine what is happening. There are medical devices that only doctors can use.
If you have tried injections, surgery, supports, and equol but have not seen any improvement, your approach may be incorrect. It is also important to change your perspective and consider other factors that may be putting strain on the tendon.
summary
- There is no strong evidence for the effectiveness of equol
- According to research papers, equol is effective for trigger finger caused by estrogen deficiency.
- Equol mimics the effects of estrogen
- Only one in two people can convert soy isoflavones into estrogen
