Could you have high β-glucuronidase?
The gut microbiome plays a critical role in regulating hormone levels, particularly through a subset of microbes known as the "estrobolome." The estrobolome consists of gut bacteria capable of metabolising oestrogens, influencing their circulation and excretion. These bacteria produce enzymes like β-glucuronidase (we test for this), which deconjugates oestrogens in the gut, allowing them to be reabsorbed into the bloodstream rather than excreted. This process can elevate circulating oestrogen levels, potentially contributing to conditions like oestrogen dominance, where oestrogen levels are disproportionately high relative to progesterone.
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The "pause" also changes your microbiome - sorry ladies
During peri and menpause, the gut undergoes significant changes driven primarily by the decline in oestrogen levels, which influences the composition and diversity of the gut microbiome. Research, such as the 2022 study in mSystems, shows that postmenopausal women exhibit reduced microbial diversity and a shift in the gut microbiome toward a profile more akin to that of men, with a notable decrease in oestrogen-metabolising bacteria like Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (we can test for both of these).Studies, including one from BMC Women’s Health (2022), also highlight a reduction in beneficial bacteria and an enrichment of microbial pathways linked to inflammation and carbohydrate metabolism in women with menopausal syndrome, suggesting that gut dysbiosis may contribute to both symptom severity and long-term health challenges.
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