Sex Hormones, the Stool Microbiome, and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Women With and Without HIV
Authors' conclusion
Serum sex hormones are significant predictors of stool microbiome diversity and composition. The gut microbiome may play a role in estrogen-related cardiovascular protection.
Study context
- Population
- Postmenopausal women with and without HIV in the Women's Interagency HIV Study; median age 58 years, 81% living with HIVplaque subset n = 134
- Participants
- 197 women
- Outcome
- Sex hormones, stool microbiome and carotid artery plaque
Methodological detailsWomen's Interagency HIV Study, exploratory mediation analysis
- Women's Interagency HIV Study
- Exploratory mediation analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Sex hormones (estrogens, androgens, adrenal precursors) associated with stool microbiome diversity and specific species, similarly in women with and without HIV
- Estrogens associated with higher diversity, higher abundance of species from Alistipes, Collinsella, Erysipelotrichia and Clostridia, and higher abundance of microbial β-glucuronidase and aryl-sulfatase orthologs
- Several hormones associated with lower odds of carotid artery plaque, incl. dihydrotestosterone, 3α-diol-17G, estradiol and estrone
- Adjusted for potential confounders
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
- Estrone-related species, particularly from Collinsella, may mediate the protective association of estrone with plaque
- Exploratory mediation analysis
Original publication
Sex Hormones, the Stool Microbiome, and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Women With and Without HIV. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published 29 August 2023. doi:10.
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