A healthy Gut Microbiome represents an exciting way forward to support hormonal health. For women, fluctuations in oestrogen affect so much of their life and there are many nutritional factors that play a part in supporting a healthy sex hormone balance. In this blog I am going to provide a brief overview of the importance of the Gut microbial balance and its relationship to a healthy hormone balance. The intestinal area contains trillions of bacteria, viruses, archaea and protozoa and these all play a part, when in balance, to maintaining healthy immune, metabolic, hormonal and Gut systems.
The relationship with these microbes and the hormonal system is very complex, however more and more research is now focused on how to maintain a healthful diversity of microbes and within this notably the genus, specie and strain of a microbe offer specific health benefits to the body. When oestrogen is lowered due to phases of life or stress or dietary impacts etc this can affect the balance of microbes in the Gut and the term oestrobolome is now used to refer to the collection of microorganisms that are capable of metabolising or changing oestrogens. Oestrogens change within their use within the body and some microbes then have the ability to further change these, which can be into more toxic forms.
Oestrogen & Gut Function
Lowered oestrogen can readily affect the Gut barrier function or the lining of the Gut and increase its permeability, which can results in a more pro-inflammatory environment and which in turn can influence, joint health, poor blood sugar management and weight gain and especially weight gain around the middle.
Lactobacillus spp of which such as crispatus, and iners (among others) are notable for supporting the health of the vaginal area and influencing the pH in this area. These microbes encourage a slightly acidic environment in the vaginal area, which inhibits the colonisation of microbes that can cause infections. These microbes also play a supportive role in supporting a health urinary tract. As noted, throughout the reproductive years of a woman, changes in pH during hormonal changes, can influence the onset of urinary tract infections and here supporting the beneficial bacteria in the Gut, vaginal area and the urinary tract can prevent infections and crowd out pathogenic microorganisms.
As already noted a diversity of microbes with a dominance of supportive species, leads to the health of the Gut, the hormonal system and in fact all systems. The diet plays a big part in supporting the health of this environment, with the need for a diversity of plant fibres and prebiotics or foods that feed the beneficial bacteria – pulses and beans, onions and leeks, garlic, asparagus and many more plants can support these precious beneficial microbes, however we need to consider many other factors – is there a dominance of undesirable bacteria influenced by: diet, considerable antibiotic use, medications, and other lifestyle factors and then what can be done to change this imbalance. This needs a very individualised approach and a Functional Medicine practitioner may be able to support the process of change and offer testing to identify areas needing specific attention.
To support the health of the microbiome which influences the health of the whole body, look at the health of the diet and lifestyle and follow a style of living that is as close to how Nature intended as possible
Jane Rose-Land BSc Nutritional Medicine, BANT, CNHC.
References
Ahmed F, Kamble PG, Hetty S, Fanni G, Vranic M, Sarsenbayeva A, Kristófi R, Almby K, Svensson MK, Pereira MJ, Eriksson JW. Role of Estrogen and Its Receptors in Adipose Tissue Glucose Metabolism in Pre- and Postmenopausal Women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022 Apr 19;107(5):e1879-e1889. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgac042. PMID: 35084504; PMCID: PMC9016422. Role of Estrogen and Its Receptors in Adipose Tissue Glucose Metabolism in Pre- and Postmenopausal Women – PubMed (nih.gov)
Chen KL, Madak-Erdogan Z. Estrogens and female liver health. Steroids. 2018 May;133:38-43. doi: 10.1016/j.steroids.2017.10.015. Epub 2017 Nov 1. PMID: 29100781. Estrogens and female liver health – PubMed (nih.gov)
Venetsanaki V, Polyzos SA. Menopause and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Review Focusing on Therapeutic Perspectives. Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2019;17(6):546-555. doi: 10.2174/1570161116666180711121949. PMID: 29992886. –Menopause and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Review Focusing on Therapeutic Perspectives – PubMed (nih.gov)
