Microbiologist Ali Rıza Akın, who conducts scientific research in the USA, said in his evaluation to Haber Global before October 18, “World Menopause Day”, that intestinal bacteria change during menopause, and that this change may be related to weight, blood sugar, sleep, inflammation and the use of hormones in the body. According to Akın, one of the reasons why two women of the same age and with similar hormone levels experience menopause very differently is hidden in the intestinal microbiota.
Does menopause also change the bowels?
Menopause isn’t just a story about the ovaries. When estrogen decreases, bowel movements, protective mucus layer, permeability, immune system and bile acids may also change. In other words, the environment in which bacteria live is different. Then the changing microbiota; It sends signals to the body again through inflammation, blood sugar, appetite, hormone recycling and gut-brain communication. In some studies, it has been observed that the intestinal microbiota of postmenopausal women differs from that of pre-menopausal women and approaches the profile seen in men with some features.
Why can two women of the same age, with similar hormone levels, experience menopause very differently?
Because the issue is not only how much hormone there is, but how the body responds to that hormone. While one woman sleeps comfortably, the other may wake up with hot flashes throughout the night. While one maintains its weight, the other can gain weight around the waist even though it eats the same way. Microbiota, as well as genetic structure, hormone receptors, muscle and fat tissue, insulin sensitivity, stress, sleep, medications and movement, affect this response. I liken the microbiota to a volume button. Hormonal change may be the same, but the structure in the intestine can increase or decrease the volume of this change.
What is the “estrobolom” that we have heard frequently lately?
The estrobolome is not a single bacterium; The system that describes how gut bacteria process estrogen. The liver sends some of the used estrogen to the intestines. Some bacteria can also contribute to the reactivation of this estrogen and its entry into the circulation with the enzymes they produce. In other words, intestinal bacteria sometimes reuse the estrogen that the body thought it had expelled. As estrogen production decreases during menopause, how the remaining hormone is processed becomes more important.
Do the effects of foods vary from person to person?
Definitely. Daidzein in soy can only be converted into a more active substance called equol in people with certain gut bacteria. Bacteria also play a role in the transformation of lignans in flaxseed. Therefore, two women can eat the same amount of soy or flaxseeds, but their bodies may not have the same results. I summarize it as follows: Same plate, same food, but different biology in different intestines.
Does the microbiota play a role in the thickening of the waist circumference during menopause?
There is, but it would be wrong to put all the blame on intestinal bacteria. As muscle mass decreases with age, the decrease in estrogen can make it easier for fat to shift from the hips and legs to the abdomen. Insomnia, stress, insulin resistance and decreased movement are also added to this. Microbiota is associated with energy use, inflammation, intestinal barrier, bile acids and blood sugar response.
So can probiotics reduce menopause symptoms?
Some controlled human studies have shown that certain combinations of bacteria may have small but measurable effects on menopausal symptoms or hormone levels. However, it does not follow that “probiotics treat menopause”. Not every box labeled probiotic is the same. Which bacteria are there, for what purpose were they chosen, what are their quantities, have human studies been conducted? You need to look at these. New generation bacteria such as Akkermansia muciniphila, prebiotics and polyphenols will be talked about more in the coming period.. But it is not right to see a single bacterium as a miracle solution. In the gut, the star player is important, but the team wins the match.
What can women do to support their gut today?
The basics are still nutrition, movement and sleep. It is important to increase the variety of vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, preserve muscle mass, take short walks after meals and maintain a regular sleep rhythm.
