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Hormone Secret: Why Women Suffer More Gut Pain Revealed
14 Jan
Summary
- Oestrogen may increase gut pain by boosting serotonin and sensitizing nerves.
- Study found oestrogen enhances gut response to food metabolites.
- Findings offer new rationale for dietary changes in gut distress.
A recent study has shed light on why women often experience more severe gut pain. Researchers have identified a potential oestrogen-dependent pathway that increases gut sensitivity. Oestrogen appears to stimulate the release of a gut hormone called PYY, which in turn boosts serotonin production and sensitizes nerves that signal pain to the brain.
This hormonal influence also affects the gut's response to short-chain fatty acids produced by bacteria. This discovery offers a clearer biological explanation for the effectiveness of dietary interventions, such as low FODMAP diets, in reducing symptoms of gastrointestinal distress for some individuals.
The research, a collaboration between the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and the University of California, San Francisco, links hormonal activity, digestive processes, and nerve responses. Understanding this pathway could lead to targeted treatments for chronic gut pain conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) without disrupting normal digestive functions.
