Let’s discuss a topic you might not be familiar with but that will gain more attention as more people become aware of it. As functional medicine practitioners, we encounter patients who are interested in or looking to understand how various systems of the body work together to maintain optimal health. In the blog, we will discuss the concept of the estrobolome. The estrobolome is a collection of gut bacteria critical in estrogen metabolism. Understanding the estrobolome can offer valuable insights into hormone balance, overall, and disease prevention.
What is the Estrobolome?
We mentioned that the estrobolome is a collection of gut bacteria critical in estrogen metabolism and circulating estrogen. These bacteria produce enzymes, particularly beta-glucuronidase, which can deconjugate, making them active again. This is a crucial mechanism for maintaining the balance of estrogen levels in the body, impacting various physiological functions (1).
What are the Roles of Estrogens in the Body?
Did you know that there are three types of estrogens that play vital roles in both female and male bodies? Here are their main roles:
- Regulating the menstrual cycle and reproductive system: This seems to be an obvious one that many people know about. Estrogens are essential for the menstrual cycle, fertility, and overall reproductive health in women.
- Maintaining bone health: Estrogens help maintain bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis, which is incredibly important as women head into menopause.
- Supporting cardiovascular health: Did you know that estrogens have a protective effect on the cardiovascular system? (2)
- Estrogens modulate mood and cognitive function. Estrogens also influence the neurotransmitter systems that impact mood and cognitive functions.
Estrobolome Affecting Estrogen Levels
The estrobolome can influence estrogen levels in several ways.
We can see a reactivation of estrogens. This happens when the gut bacteria and beta-glucuronidase activity can deconjugate estrogen metabolites, making them active again. The activation can increase circulating estrogen levels. When there is an increase in circulating estrogen levels, oxidative stress in the body can increase. Think of oxidative stress as rusting happening inside the body. This damages our tissues and can cause us to feel older than we are. The liver is an important organ that helps facilitate and remove circulating estrogen; however, the truth is that even if our liver works every day to detox, there are still so many toxins that it has to shuffle through, increasing our rain barrel.
Interestingly, the estrobolome can also affect estrogen levels through detoxification and excretion of estrogens. This is important to ensure that estrogen is not being reabsorbed and helps our body stay in hormonal balance. The other note to make about estrogen is that it is very proliferative. A very proliferative molecule can encourage growth and imbalance in places that can be dangerous for us in the long run.
Another way that the estrobolome can influence estrogen can contribute to conditions such as estrogen dominance, which is associated with symptoms like weight gain, mood swings, and an increased risk of hormone-related cancers.
The Factors Influencing to the Estrobolome
Many factors can influence the composition and activity of the estrobolome, such as diet, antibiotic use, lifestyle factors, and toxin exposure.
A diet high in fiber, prebiotics, and probiotics supports a healthy gut microbiome and, consequently, a balanced estrobolome. You can also add dark red, blue, and purple fruits and vegetables to help feed the good bacteria in the microbiome. Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi can provide beneficial probiotics. Prebiotic foods like garlic, onions, leeks, and asparagus can also feed beneficial gut bacteria.
Antibiotics can disrupt the gut microbiome, potentially impacting the estrobolome and estrogen metabolism. At their core, to help fight off an infection, antibiotics kill the bacteria in our microbiome, which is great for infection purposes; however, it can leave us more susceptible to the overgrowth of bad bacteria in the gut microbiome. With that said, considering a high-quality probiotic can be incredibly beneficial to support gut health. If you notice that your symptoms aren’t improving, it might be a good idea to do a microbiome test to understand if overgrowth is happening so that you can get the necessary care.
Stress, lack of sleep, and sedentary behavior can negatively affect the gut microbiome. Activities such as meditation, yoga, and breathing can be incredibly beneficial, but it is important to remember that your gut is at the center of many things. For example, we need to ensure that we have enough B6 to make enough serotonin to make enough melatonin. Stress is strong enough to cause a “leaky gut” for many individuals in that it will eat away at our gut lining. As complex as it sounds, ensuring you minimize stress when you can is essential.
Environmental toxins, such as pesticides and plastics, can disrupt the gut microbiome and estrobolome function. Minimizing exposure to environmental toxins by choosing organic produce, using natural cleaning products, and avoiding plastic containers is a great start. The truth is we are exposed to so many toxins and products in our everyday world, so it is important not to stress. The biggest offenders through the research suggest that plastics and pesticides can impact the estrobolome the most. You can run an environmental toxin test to understand your exposure, or you can opt to use the Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen. The Environmental Working Group is a non-profit organization that provides a skin-deep platform where you can identify the products how toxic the products that you are using with an easy-to-understand score.
Putting it All Together
Understanding the estrobolome and its role in estrogen metabolism is important for maintaining hormonal balance and optimal health. Adopting a functional medicine perspective to support a healthy microbiome can positively influence your estrobolome by optimizing estrogen levels and reducing the risk of hormone-related conditions. When you prioritize gut health, it is understood that you take a significant step toward achieving holistic wellness and maintaining a balanced and healthy life. You can work with one of our practitioners to ensure all recommendations are tailored to your needs and history. You can schedule a free consultation and speak with one of our providers today.
References
- Works, Gut. “Estrobolome, your gut & oestrogen.” Bone 15: 17-99.
- Mendelsohn, Michael E., and Richard H. Karas. “The protective effects of estrogen on the cardiovascular system.” New England journal of medicine 340.23 (1999): 1801-1811.
