Divine Aleru, Microbiome Signatures Research Coordinator

This systematic review links sex hormone levels with gut microbiota composition and diversity, revealing associations that may underpin sex-specific disease risks and suggesting microbiota modulation as a therapeutic strategy.

This review examines estrogen’s interplay with the gut microbiome and brain, revealing their collective influence on fear extinction and anxiety disorders, highlighting critical sex differences and the potential for microbiome-targeted therapies.

Vaginal microbiota composition in young women varies daily with hormonal cycles, contraceptive use, diet, and exercise, affecting Lactobacillus dominance and community stability linked to reproductive health.

Intermittent fasting (F) may positively influence gut microbiota by improving richness and diversity. However, findings are inconsistent across studies, requiring more research for clearer clinical recommendations.

Intermittent fasting improves weight, insulin sensitivity, and cardiovascular health in postmenopausal women, offering a promising non-pharmacological strategy for managing metabolic disorders.

Dietary intake of (poly)phenol-rich foods modestly improves cardiometabolic risk factors and reduces oxidative stress in postmenopausal women, with gut microbiome variability influencing outcomes.

Ketogenic diets effectively improve metabolic, hormonal, and inflammatory profiles in female endocrine disorders, aiding COS, menopause, and hormone-related cancers by promoting weight loss and reducing insulin resistance.

A plant-based diet with soy reduces hot flashes in postmenopausal women, potentially by modulating gut bacteria linked to inflammation and estrogen metabolism.

Menopausal hot flashes are one of the most common and disruptive symptoms that women experience during the transition to menopause. Characterized by sudden sensations of heat, sweating, and flushing, hot flashes can significantly affect a woman’s quality of life, causing sleep disturbances, mood swings, and even long-term health consequences. Understanding the complex mechanisms behind hot flashes, as well as the role of microbiome-targeted therapies, offers new avenues for improving menopausal health.

Menopause disrupts multiple microbiomes, elevating risks for infections, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, and osteoporosis. Targeted interventions including probiotics, diet, and hormone therapy improve health outcomes.