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Estradiol Metabolism

Meaning

Estradiol Metabolism is the complex, multi-step process by which the body chemically transforms 17-beta estradiol (E2), the most potent endogenous estrogen, into various less active metabolites for subsequent elimination. This metabolic pathway primarily occurs in the liver, involving key enzymes like Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, which hydroxylate E2 into different forms, such as the 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1) and 4-hydroxyestrone (4-OHE1) catechol estrogens. The balance of these metabolic products is clinically significant, as certain pathways are associated with potentially protective or proliferative effects on hormone-sensitive tissues.