Liaquat Marrium, Minihane Anne Marie, Vauzour David, Pontifex Matthew G
Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
Post Reprod Health. 2025 May 7:20533691251340491. doi: 10.1177/20533691251340491.
The gut microbiota, comprising a diverse array of microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract, has emerged as a key player in human health. Emerging research indicates that this gut microbial composition is influenced by sex. These sex differences are not necessarily static and likely alter across the life course in response to several factors including changing hormone profile. As such, the menopause transition-a pivotal phase in female ageing in which the hormone profile changes dramatically is receiving increasing attention. Declining estrogen which occurs during menopause appears to influence the microbiota, which may in turn contribute to menopause-related conditions such as weight gain, bone health, cancer risk and cognitive health. The modulation of estrogen through the gut's 'estrobolome', a collection of bacterial genes involved in estrogen metabolism, may offer explanation for some of the interindividual differences observed during menopause (e.g. length, symptoms and disease risk). Therapeutic modulation of the gut microbiota therefore represents a potential approach towards managing menopausal symptoms. Indeed, prebiotics and probiotics such as have been shown to increase bacterial diversity and improve metabolic and overall health in menopausal women. However, evidence remains limited regarding the specific underlying mechanisms, highlighting an urgent need for a research focus in the area. This review summarizes the current understanding of the gut microbiota's role in menopausal health and the potential of prebiotics and probiotics as therapeutic interventions. Further research into gut microbiota modulation may enable more effective, personalised treatments for menopause-associated health challenges, and supporting women's health into older ages.
肠道微生物群由胃肠道中各种各样的微生物组成，已成为人类健康的关键因素。新出现的研究表明，这种肠道微生物组成受性别影响。这些性别差异不一定是固定不变的，而且可能会在生命过程中因包括激素水平变化在内的多种因素而改变。因此，绝经过渡——女性衰老过程中的一个关键阶段，在此期间激素水平会发生显著变化——正受到越来越多的关注。绝经期间雌激素水平下降似乎会影响微生物群，而这反过来可能会导致与绝经相关的状况，如体重增加、骨骼健康、癌症风险和认知健康。通过肠道的“雌激素代谢组”（一组参与雌激素代谢的细菌基因）对雌激素进行调节，可能为绝经期间观察到的一些个体差异（如绝经持续时间、症状和疾病风险）提供解释。因此，对肠道微生物群进行治疗性调节是一种管理绝经症状的潜在方法。事实上，益生元和益生菌，如……已被证明可以增加细菌多样性，并改善绝经后女性的代谢和整体健康。然而，关于具体的潜在机制的证据仍然有限，这突出表明迫切需要在该领域开展研究。这篇综述总结了目前对肠道微生物群在绝经健康中的作用以及益生元和益生菌作为治疗干预手段的潜力的理解。对肠道微生物群调节的进一步研究可能会为绝经相关的健康挑战带来更有效、个性化的治疗方法，并有助于老年女性的健康。
