BEYOND THE MICROBIOME: MEET YOUR ESTROBOLOME
New Targeted Hormone Research May Help Hundreds of Millions of Women Struggling Worldwide
DR. KELLYANN PETRUCCI
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My hormone story began when I was just 12 years old. That’s when I started feeling horrible. My menstrual cramps were so bad I couldn’t get out of bed. I went to countless doctors and with each visit, I was offered a different quick fix to dull the discomfort instead of a real solution for the root problem. This continued for years.
I later learned what I had was a condition called endometriosis, where tissue similar to the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus grows in places outside the uterus where it doesn't belong. A condition that affects nearly 200 million women globally.
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The root cause? Hormones. Specifically, endometriosis can be due in part to higher than normal levels of the hormone estrogen. Estrogen plays a pivotal role in regulating menstrual cycles, transitioning into menopause and the functioning of reproductive organs.
I was told at a very young age that I may never be able to have children. That was the life-altering catalyst that led me to study naturopathic medicine, nutritional science and ultimately the role of estrogen in the microbiome.
KellyAnn Petrucci
Bone Broth
You’ve probably already heard of the gut microbiome. That’s the collection of trillions of microbes (like good and bad bacteria, fungi and viruses) that live in your gut. It’s gotten a lot of attention over the past few decades for good reasons. A healthy gut microbiome is key to maintaining regular bowel movements.
It can also lead to healthy weight, vibrant skin, and youthful energy. And now, groundbreaking research is showing the gut and hormones are also deeply intertwined. In fact, studying the link between estrogen and the microbiome is so important, the medical community calls it the estrobolome.
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The estrobolome refers to a specific collection of bacteria in the gut that can metabolize the hormone estrogen circulating in the body. In simpler terms, the estrobolome makes enzymes that can turn the production of estrogen on and off. So when your estrobolome is healthy and working properly, your estrogen levels are balanced. But if something’s not quite right, you can have higher or lower than desirable estrogen levels.
Research suggests this could contribute to hormonal disorders like endometriosis. In a study published in the American Journal of Reproductive Immunology in 2019, scientists examined the gut microbiota of women with and without endometriosis. The researchers found significant differences in the composition of the bacteria. Other studies since then have focused on the activity of the enzyme β-glucuronidase in the estrobolome.
Researchers discovered that women with endometriosis had higher levels of this enzyme, suggesting an overactive estrobolome could be to blame for elevated estrogen levels in endometriosis patients.
KellyAnn Petrucci
On set for Mind Share
Further research published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in 2023 investigated the specific bacterial classes that are part of estrogen metabolism. A case-control study revealed that the Erysipelotrichia bacterial class was more abundant in the fecal samples of women with endometriosis compared to those without the condition.
While the research linking the estrobolome to endometriosis is still in its early stages, the findings so far are promising for new possible treatments that target gut health, including probiotics, prebiotics and dietary strategies proven to specifically restore a healthy estrobolome balance.
For me, that meant eliminating gluten and dairy from my diet. It may seem extreme, but the thought of going through life without having a child was unbearable. Fortunately, I found a way to balance my microbiome and naturally heal my gut. And today, I am so thankful to be a mom of 2 healthy boys. References
1. Akiyama K, Nishioka K, Khan KN, Tanaka Y, Mori T, Nakaya T, Kitawaki J. Molecular detection of microbial colonization in cervical mucus of women with and without endometriosis. Am J Reprod Immunol. 2019 Aug;82(2):e13147. doi: 10.1111/aji.13147. Epub 2019 May 24. PMID: 31087436.
2. Ervin SM, Li H, Lim L, Roberts LR, Liang X, Mani S, Redinbo MR. Gut microbial β-glucuronidases reactivate estrogens as components of the estrobolome that reactivate estrogens. J Biol Chem. 2019 Dec 6;294(49):18586-18599. doi: 10.1074/jbc.RA119.010950. Epub 2019 Oct 21. PMID: 31636122; PMCID: PMC6901331.
3. Wei Y, Tan H, Yang R, Yang F, Liu D, Huang B, OuYang L, Lei S, Wang Z, Jiang S, Cai H, Xie X, Yao S, Liang Y. Gut dysbiosis-derived β-glucuronidase promotes the development of endometriosis. Fertil Steril. 2023 Sep;120(3 Pt 2):682-694. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.03.032. Epub 2023 May 12. PMID: 37178109.
4. Pai AH, Wang YW, Lu PC, Wu HM, Xu JL, Huang HY. Gut Microbiome-Estrobolome Profile in Reproductive-Age Women with Endometriosis. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Nov 14;24(22):16301. doi: 10.3390/ijms242216301. PMID: 38003489; PMCID: PMC10671785.
