Previous research has shown that good mood or depression may be related to estradiol levels. Estradiol is the main form of the hormone estrogen during the reproductive years. The decision to run the new study stemmed from the observation that blood estradiol levels were approximately 43% lower in women with premenopausal depression. It is known that this hormone enters the intestine after being metabolized in the liver and then partially returns to the blood. Therefore, scientists became interested in the connection with the gastrointestinal tract.
As a result, it turned out that some intestinal bacterial species are able to destroy estradiol with the help of the 3β-HSD enzyme. The researchers conducted an experiment on mice and found that mice injected with 3β-HSD-producing bacteria had lower estradiol levels and more pronounced signs of depression.
Researchers believe that bacteria that break down estradiol and the enzyme 3β-HSD may be potential targets for depression intervention in premenopausal women.
Source: Ferra
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