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Tamoxifen and gynecomastia: How does it work? Side effects? Research studies? Evidence?

 

 

Tamoxifen is an SERM, also known as a selective estrogen receptor modulator which affects estrogen levels in gynecomastia with the antagonistic actions on estrogen receptors. Gynecomastia is a benign enlargement of breast tissue; it mostly occurs due to an imbalance between estrogen and testosterone levels, which leads to increased estrogen activity relative to androgens, the male puberty hormone.

Tamoxifen, similar to enzyme inhibitors, binds to estrogen receptors, specifically alpha and beta estrogen receptors in breast tissue. By occupying the receptors, tamoxifen blocks estrogen from binding to the receptors, thus inhibiting ESPs (estrogen signaling pathways). By doing this, the antagonistic action, it reduces the effect of estrogen on breast tissue growth or size.

The medicine also may induce cell apoptosis in breast tissue, killing off the cells that lead to the swollen look of the chest that most people with gynecomastia have. Through this, it causes a regression in the volume of the chest and makes it appear smaller by getting rid of the unnecessary bulk.

This is also supported by clinical trial analyses. For example, when a group of ten people were subjected to placebos of tamoxifen and the real tamoxifen, 7 out of 10 people responded to the tamoxifen with a decrease in chest size, while none of the people responded to the placebo; thus, showing us the efficacy of tamoxifen as a treatment for gynecomastia.

However, since tamoxifen acts on hormones which are crucial to the body in right amounts, consuming tamoxifen can have an adverse effect on the body unless prescribed by a specialist after checking hormone levels with the appropriate test.

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