Struggling with hormonal issues? Your gut bacteria could be the answer!

Balanced hormones are key to feeling your best! Unfortunately, hormonal imbalances and hormone-related conditions are very common and can have a significant impact on quality of life.

Are you struggling with hormone-related symptoms? Let’s look into how improving your gut health can help!

Firstly, what are hormones?

Hormones are chemical messengers produced via endocrine glands. They are crucial for various important functions within the body including:¹

Metabolism
Growth
Reproduction
Sexual function
Appetite
Sleep/wake cycle
Body temperature
Heart rate
Blood pressure

Hormone imbalances can occur at any stage of life but are more common during periods of natural hormonal fluctuation, such as puberty, menstruation, and menopause.

An imbalance occurs if there is too little or too much of one or multiple hormones. Genetic and environmental factors may contribute to the development of specific hormone-related conditions like Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.²

Symptoms associated with hormone imbalance will vary depending on the hormones affected. Symptoms of two common hormonal conditions; Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Postmenopausal Osteoporosis include:³⁴⁵

Irregular periods/Absent periods
Heavy periods
Excessive hair growth
Weight gain
Infertility
Acne
Bone Fractures
Back pain
Mobility changes

Lets explore the connection between the gut microbiome and these conditions; Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and Postmenopausal Osteoporosis (PMO) in more depth.

The gut microbiome & Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS affects around 1 in every 10 women⁶ and is the leading cause of infertility.⁷ PCOS is a complex endocrine and metabolic disease⁸ in which several hormones are affected including insulin, androgens, oestrogens and growth hormones.⁹

Research shows individuals with PCOS have notably lower gut diversity than healthy individuals,¹⁰ with reduced Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.¹¹ Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are important strains of beneficial bacteria, that support the health and overall environment of the gut microbiome. Reduced microbiome diversity has been linked to excess androgens and increased systemic inflammation.¹² These findings indicate increased microbiota diversity may be supportive to individuals with PCOS.

Oestrogen is a hormone often imbalanced amongst PCOS patients. The metabolism of oestrogen can be affected by certain strains of bacteria called the estrobolome.¹³ The estrobolome can prevent oestrogen from being excreted,¹⁴ affecting the overall level of oestrogen. Changes to the gut microbiome and estrobolome have been associated with PCOS and other oestrogen related diseases.¹⁵

Several studies looking at the use of probiotics amongst PCOS patients have shown promising results including reduced serum insulin concentrations, reduced total serum testosterone levels and reduced high sensitivity C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation).¹⁶

The gut microbiome & Postmenopausal Osteoporosis (PMO)

Osteoporosis is a common condition for women post menopause, with one in two women over the age of 50 breaking a bone due to osteoporosis.¹⁷ Due to a depletion in the hormone oestrogen, women can experience a reduction in bone mass and the deterioration of bone tissue.¹⁸ These changes within the bone increase a woman’s risk of bone fragility and the likelihood of fractures.¹⁹

The term ‘gut-bone axis’ has emerged as a new possible approach to the prevention and treatment of PMO.²⁰ The gut microbiome regulates bone mineral density,²¹ and bone metabolism.²² Highlighting the important role gut microbes play in regards to bone health.

Studies have found a decreased bacterial diversity and richness amongst individuals with Postmenopausal Osteoporosis (PMO).²³ Further research has also identified a higher number of pathogenic bacteria amongst individuals with PMO such as Enterobacter, Escherichia-Shigella and Citrobactor.²⁴ These findings indicate gut dysbiosis is an issue for PMO patients.

The hormone oestrogen plays a key role in the regulation of the intestinal barrier.²⁵ A reduction in oestrogen can result in greater intestinal permeability leading to various inflammatory responses and osteoclast formation.²⁶ The formation of these osteoclasts could lead to increased bone loss.²⁷ Probiotics can support a healthy intestinal lining by the release and secretion of mucus.²⁸

Research has found supplementing with Lactobacillus improved serum calcium levels amongst individuals with PMO,²⁹ showing that modifications to the gut microbiome may have a positive impact on the absorption of certain nutrients, like calcium, a mineral that is crucial to bone health.

Now you know the science but what can you do to improve your gut health?

Daily Kefir, alongside other fermented foods. These foods are crucial to good gut health, as they are naturally rich in probiotics. Providing the gut with a diverse range of beneficial bacteria. Fermented foods include kefir, live yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, miso and tempeh.
Prebiotic rich foods are fibre rich and provide the fuel your good gut bugs need to thrive! The best way to increase your fibre intake is to incorporate a wide variety of plant foods every day, focusing on; wholegrains, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, fruits and vegetables, as well as our Complete Prebiotic, which contains 18 different fibres in 1 TBSP!
Collagen can support various areas of the body. Research shows that collagen can repair damaged intestinal lining. Intestinal permeability can occur due to a reduction in oestrogen, as seen amongst PMO patients.³⁰ Collagen can be a supportive tool to reduce intestinal permeability.

Including these three key elements of the gut health protocol can help you build a more diverse and resilient microbiome!

Interested to find out more about your microbiome? Check out our Microbiome Test!

Any questions? Contact one of our Nutritional Therapists via live chat, weekdays from 8am to 8pm.