The Estrobolome is just as important to men as women and serves to regulate the oestrogen to testosterone balance, affecting all aspects of men’s health from levels of fatigue to the risk of prostate cancer.
What is the estrobolome?
The Estrobolome is a subset of the bacteria in your microbiome and it directs and regulates how much estrogen is reabsorbed from the gut after your liver has neutralised it (conjugated it by adding a molecule) it and passed it into the bile for excretion.
The bacteria in the Estrobolome possess genetic material that can direct the deconjugation and reform oestrogen that can be reabsorbed into the host’s body.
It is not just an important issue for women where the Estrobolome regulates oestrogen deficiency or oestrogen dominance.
The Estrobolome in men
In men, the Estrobolome regulates oestrogen, in just the same way as in women.
The hormone oestrogen is critical for men’s health despite being lower in concentration than testosterone. As in women, the microbial community produces the enzyme beta-glucuronidase, which reactivates estrogen in the gut, allowing it to be reabsorbed into the bloodstream rather than excreted.
The importance of the estronolome to men.
In men, a healthy estrobolome function is essential for maintaining a healthy balance of oestrogen with testosterone, supporting sperm maturation, libido, erectile function, and muscle mass.
Disruptions to the gut microbiome (dysbiosis) can thus lead to estrogen dominance, interfering with testosterone production and increasing the risk of metabolic disorders like obesity, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease. Decreased muscle mass and increased risk of prostate or even breast cancer has been linked to the performance of the male estrobolome.
Simply, as men age and approach andropause, natural testosterone declines while estrogen may rise, making estrobolome health increasingly vital for managing symptoms like fatigue and mood changes.
Of course other factors come into play.
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Dietary Inputs can support correct hormone balance or disrupt it. Useful foods would include high fiber foods such as oats, pulses, and nuts and seeds; then prebiotic foods (garlic, onions, endive, dark chocolate), and probiotics (raw cheese, raw milk, Greek yogurt, olives, kefir) to support beneficial bacteria.
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Chemicals of concern: Of course, compounds toxic to the estrobolome would include endocrine disruptors (BPA, plastics, herbicides, perfumes and chemicals in your body wash, sunscreen or toothpaste), while excessive alcohol can harm gut diversity as can antibiotics, PPIs and some common ‘safe’ drugs. In the past, we covered research that linked 13 chemicals to prostate cancer in men and perfume chemicals to men with testicular cancer.