A new study from Wuhan University in China has identified a previously unknown mechanism that links gut bacteria, estradiol, and depression in premenopausal women. The study, titled “Gut-microbiome-expressed 3b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase degrades estradiol and is linked to depression in premenopausal females,” was recently published in the journal Cell Metabolism.
Previous research has already established that healthy moods or depression can be associated with estradiol levels, which is the primary form of estrogen during reproductive years. Premenopausal women with depression have been observed to have lower levels of estradiol, but the reason behind this connection has not been fully understood.
This latest investigation was launched after researchers noticed that estradiol levels in the blood of premenopausal women with depression were approximately 43 percent lower than in women without depression. Estradiol enters the gut after liver metabolism and is then partly reabsorbed back into the bloodstream. As a result, the researchers tracked the path from the low blood samples back to the gut.
The study discovered that a specific bacterial enzyme, 3b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, found in the gut microbiome, was responsible for breaking down estradiol. When the enzyme was removed in mouse models, the estradiol levels increased, leading to a reduction in depressive-like behaviors.
The researchers also discovered that the presence of the bacterial enzyme in the gut microbiome of premenopausal women was correlated with increased rates of depression. This indicates that this specific bacterial enzyme plays a significant role in the development of depression in premenopausal women.
While there is still much to be learned about the connection between gut bacteria, estradiol, and depression, this study offers important insights that could lead to new treatments and therapies for depression in women. By understanding the underlying mechanisms of depression, researchers can develop targeted interventions that may be more effective than existing treatments.