Yes boo, you do have an ecosystem within you! While there are many ecological niches within the body this post deep dives into the influence your gut microbiome has on hormone regulation.
What is the gut microbiome?
The gut microbiome consists of trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms that reside in your gastrointestinal tract and play a crucial role in various aspects of your health, including hormone regulation.
🔍 What new research is there on the gut microbiome and hormone regulation?
OESTROGEN → Certain gut bacteria help regulate your body’s oestrogen levels, this collection of bacteria is known as the ‘estrobolome’.
STRESS → The gut microbiome taps into your central stress response by interacting with the HPA axis and increasing stress hormones like cortisol.
THYROID → Beneficial bacteria help convert roughly 20% of thyroid hormones T4 to T3 in the gut.
INSULIN → The gut microbiome can affect insulin secretion and sensitivity which then influences glucose metabolism.
APPETITE → Gut bacteria can influence the production of ghrelin and leptin which are hormones related to appetite and satiety (the feeling of fullness).
INFLAMMATION → Some gut bacteria produce substances that have pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory effects. Unregulated inflammation for a prolonged period can disrupt hormonal balance, impacting various hormones such as insulin, cortisol, and sex hormones.
NEUROTRANSMITTERS & MOOD → Certain gut microbiota can produce neurotransmitters, like serotonin and GABA. Since these neurotransmitters can influence hormone production, the gut microbiome indirectly impacts hormonal health through its effects on mood and stress levels.
In summary, the gut microbiome is intricately linked to hormone health, influencing everything from stress response and mood to metabolism and reproductive health. This complex interaction highlights the importance of maintaining a healthy and balanced gut microbiome for overall hormonal balance and well-being.
REFERENCES
Hussain, T., Murtaza, G., Kalhoro, D. H., Kalhoro, M. S., Metwally, E., Chughtai, M. I., Mazhar, M. U., & Khan, S. A. (2021). Relationship between gut microbiota and host-metabolism: Emphasis on hormones related to reproductive function. Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui), 7(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2020.11.005
Kwa, M., Plottel, C. S., Blaser, M. J., & Adams, S. (2016). The Intestinal Microbiome and Estrogen Receptor-Positive Female Breast Cancer. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 108(8), djw029. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djw029
Santos-Marcos, J.A., Mora-Ortiz, M., Tena-Sempere, M. et al. Interaction between gut microbiota and sex hormones and their relation to sexual dimorphism in metabolic diseases. Biol Sex Differ 14, 4 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13293-023-00490-2
