The Gut-Menopause Axis: Identifying Potential Therapeutic Targets

Abstract

As the population and average life-span increases, so does the proportion of menopausal women in the world. Menopause increases a woman’s risk for comorbidities such as type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. With numerous adverse effects of standard hormone replacement therapy, there is not only an opportunity, but a demand, to find a more beneficial treatment plan. We as humans do not occupy this body as one living being, rather we share this body with trillions of microbes. Despite only accounting for 1-3% of body mass, microorganisms outnumber human cells 13:10.1 Symbiosis is necessary for a healthy life, a statement supported by the multiple pathologies that stem from bacterial dysbiosis. There is an undeniable connection between the gut microbiome and the rest of the body, however we have only uncovered the tip of the iceberg in this rapidly expanding field of research. I hypothesize that the gut may provide a plethora of targets that could help restore symbiosis through the upregulation of beneficial microbial organisms and their metabolic byproducts in menopausal women, thereby ameliorating common menopausal symptoms and risks. The intricacy of the gut-body axis complicates the development of a new treatment plan. Through precision medicine, the field of women’s healthcare can be advanced to historical levels. The intent of this thesis is to explore the connection between the gut and the menopausal transition, with the goal of identifying gut-oriented therapeutic targets to increase the longevity and quality of life of women.