Menopause-related weight increase and health risk can be traced back to an unidentified factor apart from traditional causes.
Vulnerability of Post-Menopausal Women to Gut-Related Diseases
As we age, our bodies become less efficient at repairing damaged cells. This natural decline is particularly problematic for the intestinal cells, as their slow repair or incomplete healing can lead to a phenomenon known as leaky gut syndrome. This condition, characterized by an increased permeability of the gut lining, allows harmful microbes and toxins to pass into the bloodstream, leading to a range of metabolic disorders.
Post-menopausal women are particularly susceptible to leaky gut syndrome. This increased vulnerability can be linked to hormonal changes, specifically the decline in estrogen levels. Estrogen plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the gut lining by supporting tight junctions between intestinal cells. During menopause, when estrogen levels drop, these junctions become weakened, leading to an increase in gut permeability.
A recent study has demonstrated the interplay between the loss of female sex hormones and the gut microbiome following menopause. This hormonal loss exacerbates metabolic diseases, including weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and inflammation. The study used mice models to show that those with ovaries were less likely to develop these metabolic issues compared to those without ovaries, whose microbiome more closely resembled that of post-menopausal women.
While it is impossible to alter hormonal changes during menopause, a previous study suggested that a diet rich in polyphenols may help improve intestinal permeability, potentially mitigating the effects of leaky gut syndrome. Polyphenols, found in foods such as apples, cocoa, dark chocolate, green tea, cranberries, oranges, and pomegranate juice, have been shown to boost the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, reduce harmful bacteria, and prevent inflammation.
In light of these findings, maintaining a polyphenol-rich diet and avoiding a high-fat diet could help protect against the negative effects of leaky gut syndrome in post-menopausal women. However, further research is needed to fully understand the complex relationship between hormones, the gut microbiome, and metabolic health.
Sources:
Metabolic diseases may be driven by gut microbiome, loss of ovarian hormones - Science DailyGut microbiome responds to alteration in female sex hormone status and exacerbates metabolic dysfunction - Gut Microbes
- Post-menopausal women, with reduced estrogen levels, are more vulnerable to leaky gut syndrome due to weakened tight junctions between intestinal cells.
- A recent study revealed that the loss of female sex hormones during menopause has an impact on the gut microbiome, potentially exacerbating metabolic diseases such as inflammation.
- In an attempt to mitigate the effects of leaky gut syndrome, a diet rich in polyphenols may be beneficial, as these compounds have shown potential in boosting beneficial gut bacteria, reducing harmful bacteria, and preventing inflammation.
- To protect against the negative effects of leaky gut syndrome in post-menopausal women, maintaining a polyphenol-rich diet and avoiding high-fat foods could prove helpful, although further research is required to fully grasp the intricate relationship between hormones, the gut microbiome, and metabolic health.
