Estriol for Multiple Sclerosis Explained by Neurologist

Several patients asked me about a study on estriol in a mouse-model of MS and were surprised when I told them this is old news and estriol has already been studied in humans with MS. Lets take a look at the clinical trials on estriol and other estrogen hormones in people with multiple sclerosis
Neuroprotection in Cerebral Cortex Induced by the Pregnancy Hormone Estriol: www.laboratory...
Rate of pregnancy-related relapse in multiple sclerosis. Pregnancy in Multiple Sclerosis Group: pubmed.ncbi.nl...
Menarche, oral contraceptives, pregnancy and progression of disability in relapsing onset and progressive onset multiple sclerosis: link.springer....
Parity is associated with a longer time to reach irreversible disability milestones in women with multiple sclerosis: journals.sagep...
Parity and disability progression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: link.springer....
Age at menarche and risk of multiple sclerosis (MS): a systematic review and meta-analysis: bmcneurol.biom...
Estriol combined with glatiramer acetate for women with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial: www.clinicalke...
Pregnancy hormone estriol promotes myelin repair in MS mice: multiplesclero...
Neuroprotection in Cerebral Cortex Induced by the Pregnancy Hormone Estriol: pubmed.ncbi.nl...
Oral contraceptives combined with interferon β in multiple sclerosis: nn.neurology.o... hormone therapy in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review of clinical trials: assets.researc...
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Dr. Brandon Beaber is a board-certified neurologist with subspecialty training in multiple sclerosis and other immunological diseases of the nervous system. He is a partner in the Southern California Permanente Medical Group and practices in Downey, California (South Los Angeles). He has several publications on MS epidemiology and has participated in clinical trials for MS therapeutics. You can follow him on twitter @Brandon_Beaber where he regularly posts about MS news and research.
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Music: INNER GRACE - Copyright 2018 Wilton Vought Source: Really Really Free Music Link: • Video T
he video material by Dr. Brandon Beaber is general educational material on health conditions and is not intended to be used by viewers to diagnose or treat any individual's medical condition. Specifically, this material is not a substitute for individualized diagnostic and treatment advice by a qualified medical/health practitioner, licensed in your jurisdiction, who has access to the relevant information available from diagnostic testing, medical interviews, and a physical examination. To the extent that Dr. Beaber endorses any lifestyle change, behavioral intervention, or supplements, the viewer should consult with a qualified healthcare professional to determine the safety and efficacy of the intervention in light of their individualized information.

[@dianefresca6896]

So grateful for your educational vids. You keep me going. Still having a hard time accepting that at my age 68 has it. Just officially diagnosed 12/23 started DMT Feb 23

[@teresahargett395]

Also check out Dr. Aaron Boster's videos. He taught me more than my neuro ever will. Diagnosed at age 60. Life goes on, just differently.

[@pattischmitz2680]

@@teresahargett395 what type were you diagnosed with? Thanks!!

[@EvenSoItIsWell]

Good morning! Age 57, at the tail end of menopause with not HRT. Question. In one study it showed Estriol worked almost as good as Copaxone. Would taking both be a benefit in your opinion? Also I would love to see a video on brain atrophy, how it is measured, if there is an accurate way to measure and how many get it measured?

[@minibobber]

good question!

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

I think the evidence for copaxone (at least in relapsing MS) is better than estriol, but I would not expect any interaction between the two. Thanks for the the suggestion of the topic of brain atrophy.

[@donnabolt5847]

Great question on brain atrophy. I've been wondering about it too because I have now acquired more brain atrophy than typical and im only 3 yrs in with ms. The only thing I found when researching what/if can help me is exercising (specifically cardio) can decrease brain atrophy.

[@mary-vy3mo]

You asked before...he is avoiding it because it is so dire. only hsct gives normal brain atrophy..search "ms brain atrophy" search "normal ms brain atrophy after hsct for ms"

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

@@mary-vy3mo This is not correct. Normalization of brain atrophy in MS has been reported with other disease modifying therapies such as Lemtrada in the CARE-MS1 and CARE-MS2 trials as discussed in this article: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8836909/

[@aliciagowacki4369]

I took BC for a very long time 25 years or so and did pretty good, I even went rock climbing and had issues but not major, once I stopped the BC I have gone downhill, now I wish I was still on it, Dr don’t want me to take anything now cuz it could cause TIA, I also got osteoporosis which I am taking D3 and K2 and will get my next bone scan next year, I believe Birth Control helped me stay active and well for long time! Thanks Dr Beaber for the great videos. Now how about TIA and MS, I have been told I have had some Mini strokes.

[@desiredecove5815]

Ty for showing us the studies and walking us through the explanation. #MavencladMilf #Sharingiscaring

[@melissamcdonald5962]

Thank you so much for taking my question!

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

:)

[@erikpeoples8041]

I would love to see you devote a video to restless leg syndrome. I have it and it seems to be a neurological condition above anything else.

[@user-sz9pz2bt4f]

Dr. Alan McDonald, a Florida physician, performed 10 autopsies on MS patients and found that all 10 patients had filarial worms in their cerebral spinal fluid. You can find his presentation on KZbin. It is called multiple sclerosis is a parasitosis.

[@user-sz9pz2bt4f]

@@AJ_411 I would suggest KZbin channel - Living Disease Free. Host was diagnosed with MS 30 years ago and has been in remission for many years. I started doing parasite cleanses with non-toxic food grade Diatomaceous Earth.

[@Glen-Jussie]

I’m 49, went into early menopause at 40ish started estrodiol at 42, ended up on high dose 100mcg. Just got diagnosed with MS, optic neuritis was my first attack. I have several brain and spinal cord lesions and pos oli bands. Drs kept asking re likely MS symptoms over the previous years, specific pain and specific movement issues- I really can’t think of anything up until this attack- it’s made me wonder if the high dose estrogen has been protective for me. I’d love to see more studies on this. I know estrogen is anti inflammatory so maybe- what’s your thoughts??

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

I think review of observational studies on estradiol hormone treatment (as in birth control or HRT) suggests no clear benefit (or harm) for MS.

[@Glen-Jussie]

Thank you for answering!! I’m reeling from my diagnosis (ED nurse and scared re my work future) but your videos (and Dr Bosters) are giving me much hope and so informative 😊 I appreciate the time you spend on these!!

[@clintfanslow6907]

Brandon, please do a review on the Neuriva study published in March 2023. I liked the video you did on the Alpha Brain study. The Neuriva study has been out for four months and I still can't find anyone "analyzing" the results.

[@dianefresca6896]

Glad I am way past menopause. Took HRT 45-55 yrs . Now 68

[@ernietollar407]

i'm always curious about m/f hormones and what angles have been studied or even theorized in MS/auto immune... men have very low levels of estriol?! women outside of pregnancy/3rd trimester..? should men be wary of any supplementation of dhea, testosterone or male hormones?

[@karenjudeich7162]

So....i have severe progesterone hypersensitivity (also called Autoimmune Progesterone dermatitis). Ive only had MS pseudoflares and relapses during progesterone peaks in my cycle. Things became so severe i underwent surgical menopause. I tried estriol vaginal cream at 5 weeks post op and unfortunately had a reaction and pseudoflare. (This was likely made worse by having covid day after my surgery). A few days after trial of the estriol, i had my most severe presumed progesterone reaction (guessing from my adrenals after the drop in estrogen again). This led to a 2 month chronic fatigue state. Long story, but im 1 year out no HRT and no MS relapses and my optic nerves have gotten a micron or 2 thicker! My progesterone hypersensitivity is 100% my biggest MS driver. The fluctuations in hormone levels can be a big trigger!

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

Thanks for sharing your story. Very interesting.

[@karenjudeich7162]

@DrBrandonBeaber yes, please look in to link between mast cell activation syndrome and autoimmune disease. Mast cells have receptors for estrogen/progesterone and imbalances and sensitivities to hormone fluctuations may be a big factor in autoimmune disease. Treating mast cell activation may be a key factor!!

[@momdolton2095]

I tried taking a high dose biotin, but it through off all my hormones, and the doctor took me off of it because it change the estroil also which I didn’t know might have been a good thing. Anyway, I always felt better and was well when I was pregnant and I always felt better and was well on low-dose hCG. Of course I had a very clean diet when I was on this I wish someone would do was study on very low-dose hCG. it’s just interesting how much better it makes you feel where is on the biotin high head, hot flashes, and just didn’t feel great. I felt OK, but it was more of the same with hot flashes where is on the teeny amount of hCG you actually feel better. I wonder if the progesterone going up is actually what making you better. I am female, and I noticed my progesterone and testosterone were always a tad bit high when I was at my healthiest and running. And yes, I’ve had two pregnancies, one live birth and a history of Lyme disease and thank you for taking the time to research and make these videos. I am a nurse, so I appreciate it.

[@momdolton2095]

Sorry, I use the microphone and auto correct doesn’t like my accent

[@mohammedhossain6172]

Would testosterone for males show similar benefits

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

Your guess is as good as mine. I don't think this is well-studied.

[@mohammedhossain6172]

Ty Dr. Beaber your videos are well appreciated!

[@freethinkeralways]

I was not accepted in the study by Dr. Geiger at the time cuz my PASAT had perfect score & they wouldn't b able to demonstrate improvement if estriol had that effect.

[@michellemustari498]

What about estradiol that seems to be the most important of all the estrogens

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

Estradiol is more potent as a hormone, but I am not an expert in this area.

[@donnabolt5847]

Thanks for this video! Been seriously contemplating HRT when time. Im 45. Do you notice women who go through menopause getting worse but not the ones on high DMT?

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

I can't say I have noticed a specific tendency for women to have worsening disability when they go through menopause. On the average, disability increases with age, so these two things are confounded.

[@karenpny]

Hi Dr. Beaber, how are you? I hope you're well. I see brain shrinkage being mentioned above - does cognitive impairment in ms correlate with brain volume or is it independent of that and due to lesions, etc, or a combination of both?

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

A combination of both but brain atrophy is the stronger predictor.

[@karenpny]

@@DrBrandonBeaber thanks so much for the answer.

[@jdgirl2]

Ive been taking 8mg of estriol for 20 years to treat my MS. Nothing else. No progression!

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

Nice

[@PS-flyingbird73]

Hello, Age 50 - PPMS - NO DMT- Recently spine osteoporosis- arthritis- Disc tear due to clumsiness & fall - hormone tests suggest pre-menopausal. Should I ask Gyno or neurologist ( concern to see menopause test due to autonomic neuropathy) for it to give it a try?

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

I'm not sure exactly what you mean. Autonomic neuropathy and MS are different conditions. In some cases, people with MS can have symptoms of autonomic dysfunction (but due to central nervous system injury, not neuropathy).

[@lararose9106]

Hey there Dr. Brandon off topic but may i ask is it too late for a severe relapse thats been going on for months and not responded to steroids to heal at some point? Clinically they say im fine but when i stand i feel like collapsing..im always dizzy..is it too late to regain walking? Im only second year diagnosed and was fine last year

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

Sometimes severe relapses can improve over 1-2 years. I have had rare patients who had slow improvement over several years. For instance, I have a patient who developed severe central vertigo associated with a brainstem lesions who required a wheelchair but slowly improved over about 5 years and was able to walk again. This is unusual but can occur.

[@lararose9106]

@@DrBrandonBeaber hello Dr. Brandon thanks for ur reply🙂 upon clinical examination by neuros and physiotherapists im told nerve and muscle function is preserved but its the standing and walking that worsened as a result of my many infections over months and eventually relapse after relapse. From ur experience u dont personaly try with steroids at ths point right? Ive been in a wheelchair for mybe 4 months and im not sure how to help myself recover whether its physiotherapy vitamins steroids and what to do with my central vertigo..im honestly starting to doubt a tumour..is it coomon in ur clinic though to have someone unable to walk from the second year? How wud an mri determine what to do with the dizziness i probably have more brainstem ones

[@lararose9106]

@@DrBrandonBeaber are there any signs for neurologists to be able to tell after a relapse if theres any hope for walking other than mri? For instance clinical examination? Can that give signs of tumours too? How do u personaly help patients with central vertigo it must be controlled to some extent right..steroids r not for dizzy attacks i guess..they didnt work at least for me🥲

[@preevetElizabeth]

I'm a trans woman so would be super curious if taking all my estrogen via estradiol does anything

[@arr2820]

Is too much estrogen cancerogenic.

[@Umetastic]

Makes me feel like I need to have a baby 🤔

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

You can tell your future child in 20 years that they wouldn't have existed if it weren't for a random dubious KZbin video about hormones in MS.

[@Umetastic]

lol! yup :) I wanted one anyway but have been worried about MS but doesn't look like it would make things worse.@@DrBrandonBeaber

[@harmcity9934]

of course the question we're all thinking.....if i take this can i grow boobs?

[@megan.0718]

age 54 on HRT, my boobs did not grow (TG) but no hot flashes, sleep sound all night, my skin looks way better, my muscles came back after losing them from thyroid cancer, increase sex drive, have ZERO MS symptoms (and I am not currently on meds), it is a win-win, MS gets worse after menopause why not trick your body into thinking it is not. HRT improves brain shrinkage which happens worse when you have MS, also improves your chances of not having a heart attack and osteoporosis. I recommend HRT to all my friends, MS or not! If your gyno will give them to you great but I get mine from a pellet specialist, which I pay out of pocket for, that way I get testosterone too, runs me about $1,300 per year.

[@zoranagavrilovic9403]

😐

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

Supposedly estriol is a weak estrogen with fewer effects than estradiol, but if you are male, there is definitely a risk of this type of side effect.

[@harmcity9934]

sorry bad joke 🤫 slooooowly backing out of chat 👨‍🦽

[@ExperiencerSince1988]

​@@DrBrandonBeaberwhat do you mean fewer effects? Fewer side effects? 😊