Associations Between Endometriosis and Gut Microbiota
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Microbes
Microbes
Microbes, short for microorganisms, are tiny living organisms that are ubiquitous in the environment, including on and inside the human body. They play a crucial role in human health and disease, functioning within complex ecosystems in various parts of the body, such as the skin, mouth, gut, and respiratory tract. The human microbiome, which is […]
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Women’s Health
Women’s Health
Women’s health, a vital aspect of medical science, encompasses various conditions unique to women’s physiological makeup. Historically, women were often excluded from clinical research, leading to a gap in understanding the intricacies of women’s health needs. However, recent advancements have highlighted the significant role that the microbiome plays in these conditions, offering new insights and potential therapies. MicrobiomeSignatures.com is at the forefront of exploring the microbiome signature of each of these conditions to unravel the etiology of these diseases and develop targeted microbiome therapies.
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Karen Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease—four years before the first published case study.
What was studied?
The study examined the gut microbiota in women with endometriosis compared to healthy controls. It aimed to explore differences based on disease localization, symptoms, or treatment and assess the gut microbiota’s potential role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
Who was studied?
66 women diagnosed with endometriosis at Skåne University Hospital were studied alongside 198 matched controls from the Malmö Offspring Study, assessing their gut microbiota through 16S rRNA sequencing.
What were the most important findings?
Significant findings include higher overall microbial diversity in controls compared to endometriosis patients, with specific differences in the abundance of 12 bacteria types between the two groups. After adjusting for false discovery rates, no significant microbiota differences were found within the endometriosis cohort.
What are the greatest implications of this study?
The study implies that gut microbiota may be altered in individuals with endometriosis, suggesting a possible link between gut microbiota and the pathogenesis or symptomatology of endometriosis. These findings highlight the need for further research on the gut microbiota’s role in endometriosis, potentially leading to new diagnostic and treatment strategies.