If You Have Period Problems, You Have to Address the Gut

Have you ever heard of the "estrobolome"?

It’s a fascinating part of your gut microbiome that plays a crucial role in maintaining hormonal balance. If you’re experiencing period problems and you’re not addressing your gut health—whether it’s IBS, SIBO, or dysbiosis—you’re not getting to the root of the issue.

Emma Winnie, Registered Clinical Nutritionist, explains how a dysfunctional gut microbiome can be a major driver of hormone imbalance. If you're struggling with conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, PMS, painful menstruation, or even bloating and mood swings, your gut health could be at the core of it all.

Estrogen, the Gut Microbiome, and Beta-Glucuronidase

Estrogen is processed in the liver, where it’s metabolised and conjugated (essentially packed for elimination). From there, it heads to the gut for further digestion. This is where the estrobolome—your collection of gut bacteria—comes into play. The estrobolome helps metabolise and regulate circulating estrogen in your body.

One of the key microbes in the estrobolome produces beta-glucuronidase, an enzyme that can de-conjugate estrogen, releasing it back into its active form. Essentially, beta-glucuronidase undoes the neat “package” the liver prepared for elimination, allowing estrogen to be reabsorbed into the body rather than excreted.

This reabsorption of estrogen can lead to unopposed estrogen/estrogen dominance, a condition that is tied to a range of hormonal issues, including:

• Endometriosis

• PCOS

• PMS/PMDD

• Painful menstruation

• Heavy menstruation

• Clotting

• Breast tenderness

• Weight gain

• Bloating

• Depression/Anxiety

• Irritability/Rage

What Is Beta-Glucuronidase?

Beta-glucuronidase is an enzyme primarily produced by bacteria in your gut as they break down carbohydrates and other compounds. While it serves important functions in your body, an imbalance in its activity can lead to health concerns.

Here are the key roles of beta-glucuronidase:

1. Detoxification: The liver binds toxins, hormones (like estrogen), and medications to glucuronic acid, making them water-soluble for easier excretion. Beta-glucuronidase can reverse this process, allowing these compounds to re-enter the body, potentially reactivating harmful substances.

2. Hormone Recycling: When beta-glucuronidase activity is too high, it can contribute to higher levels of circulating estrogen, leading to symptoms of unopposed estrogen/estrogen dominance, PMS, and even hormone-related cancers.

3. Gut Health and Dysbiosis: Overgrowth of beta-glucuronidase-producing bacteria is linked to gut imbalances (dysbiosis), which can cause inflammation and digestive symptoms.

Health Impacts of Imbalanced Beta-Glucuronidase

When beta-glucuronidase levels are too high, it can contribute to a range of health problems:

• Estrogen Dominance: Symptoms like heavy periods, PMS, breast tenderness, and mood swings.

• Detoxification Impairment: Your body may struggle to clear toxins, resulting in an increased toxic burden.

• Colon Health Risks: High enzyme activity has been associated with a higher risk of colon cancer due to the reactivation of carcinogenic compounds.

• Gut Symptoms: You may experience bloating, irregular bowel movements, or IBS-like symptoms.

How to Address Imbalanced Beta-Glucuronidase Levels

Luckily, there are several ways to help balance beta-glucuronidase activity in the body, starting with dietary adjustments and lifestyle changes.

Dietary Adjustments:

• Increase fiber intake: Soluble fibre from oats, flaxseeds, and legumes can promote beneficial bacteria that regulate beta-glucuronidase.

• Avoid high omega 6 fat, low-fiber diets: These types of diets can encourage the overgrowth of harmful bacteria, exacerbating gut imbalances.

Probiotics and Prebiotics:

• Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains: These probiotics help reduce beta-glucuronidase activity.

• Prebiotic foods: Foods like garlic, onions, artichokes and green bananas feed beneficial gut bacteria, helping to maintain a balanced microbiome.

Practitioner Prescribed Targeted Supplementation:

• Calcium D-glucarate: This supplement supports the glucuronidation process, reducing the reactivation of toxins and hormones like estrogen.

• Milk Thistle and DIM: Both aid liver detoxification and hormone metabolism.

Lifestyle Changes:

• Manage stress: Chronic stress can alter gut bacteria and enzyme production, contributing to hormonal imbalance.

• Exercise regularly: Physical activity supports gut motility and microbial diversity, which can help balance beta-glucuronidase activity.

Digestive Testing: Assessing Beta-Glucuronidase Levels

Testing for beta-glucuronidase levels can provide valuable insights into your gut health. Complete Microbiome Mapping (CMM) is an advanced stool test designed to assess the balance of bacteria, yeast, and other microorganisms in your gut. This test provides a comprehensive overview of your gut microbiome, including markers like beta-glucuronidase, to help pinpoint imbalances and guide treatment plans.

Benefits of CMM Testing:

• Pinpoint imbalances

• Check enzyme levels

• Root cause solutions to symptoms

• Tailored dietary and lifestyle recommendations based on your unique microbiome.

• Targeted supplementation strategies to address gut imbalances.

• Long-term solutions to prevent chronic health issues linked to gut health and hormone balance.

Speak with our Registered Clinic Nutritionists and Naturopaths for your own bespoke plan of action.

Registered Clinical Nutritionist, Emma Winnie, discusses the role of Beta-Glucoronadaise.

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