There is a clear relationship between leaky gut, dysbiosis, and the common hormone imbalances that affect Americans. Chronic inflammation from dysbiosis and leaky gut sets the stage for hormone imbalance.
There is a known bidirectional interaction between steroid hormones and gut microbiota. As reported by the journal frontiers in Microbiology: "Hormones can have an impact on the composition and metabolism of the microbiota. In turn, the gut microbiome is highly involved in hormone homeostasis through several possible mechanisms." The same authors note that dysbiosis (which goes hand in hand with leaky gut) creates inflammation that negatively affects the enzyme metabolism of hormones in the gut and ultimately in the bloodstream. The term "endobolome" is now used to describe the interaction of the gut microbiota genes and the metabolism of steroid (e.g., estrogens, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol) hormones.
Another example of the gut-hormone link involves the most common cause of hypothyroidism (low thyroid), an autoimmune condition known as Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (HT). HT is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks thyroid gland tissue and makes one susceptible to the underproduction of thyroid hormones. According to research published in frontiers in Immunology: "There is a lot of evidence that the intestinal dysbiosis, bacterial overgrowth, and increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut) favor HT development, and a thyroid–gut axis has been proposed which seems to impact our entire metabolism." In addition, recent research has shown that gut permeability increases during the menopausal transition in women.
If you want to have hormone balance, then you must have a healthy gut microbiome. Soon I will have an E-book available on gut health and an expanded section on how to health the microbiome and leaky gut with natural protocols. We will let subscribers know when it is available.
If you want to have hormone balance, then you must have a healthy gut microbiome. My e-book is now available on gut health and an expanded section on how to health the microbiome and leaky gut with natural protocols. Right now you can save 60%, to get your copy simply CLICK HERE.
Dr. Mark Stengler NMD, MS, is a bestselling author in private practice in Encinitas, California, at the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine. His newsletter, Dr. Stengler’s Health Breakthroughs, is available at www.markstengler.com and his product line at www.drstengler.com
Aguilera M, Gálvez-Ontiveros Y, Rivas A. Endobolome, a New Concept for Determining the Influence of Microbiota Disrupting Chemicals (MDC) in Relation to Specific Endocrine Pathogenesis. Front Microbiol. 2020;11. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2020.578007
