The Relationship Between Menopausal Syndrome and Gut Microbes

Abstract Purpose The association between gut microbes dysbiosis and menopause syndrome (MPS) is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between MPS and gut microbes. Methods 77 MPS patients (P group) and 24 menopausal healthy women (H group) were recruited in this study. Participants were collected their stool specimen and clinical parameters (including demographic data, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), et al ). We looked at the differences in gut microbiota between two groups by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. LEfSe was used to identify bacteria with varying abundances in different groups. Clinical parameters and microbial species Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated. PICRUSt was used to predict the potential KEGG Ortholog functional profiles of microbial communities. Results The abundance of 14 species differed substantially between the MPS and menopausal healthy women (LDA significance threshold > 2.0) according to LEfSe analysis. Using Spearman's correlation analysis, it was discovered that Aggregatibacter segnis, Bifidobacterium animalis, Acinetobacter guillouiae were enriched in menopausal healthy women, with a positive correlation with the E2 and a negative correlation with the FSH and LH (p ༜ 0.05); the abundances of species had a close correlation with the other clinical parameters, including the KI score, hot flash, et al. KEGG L3 metabolic pathways relevant to cardiovascular disease and carbohydrate metabolism were also enriched in the MPS (p ༜ 0.05), according to functional prediction by PICRUST and analyzed by Dunn test. Conclusion There were gut microbes dysbiosis in MPS, which is reflected in the deficiency of the abundance of Aggregatibacter segnis, Bifidobacterium animalis and Acinetobacter guillouiae related to the level of sex hormones. In MPS individuals, species with altered abundances and unique functional pathways were found.