The Gut Zoomer reports two separate categories: β-Glucuronidase and β-Glucuronidase-producing bacteria.
β-Glucuronidase refers to the enzyme, whereas β-Glucuronidase-producing bacteria refers to the organisms that produce the enzyme.
β-glucuronidase enzymes made by gut bacteria can undo estrogen glucuronidation- a detoxification step in which the liver attaches glucuronic acid to estrogen so it can be safely eliminated. When β-glucuronidase enzymes break this bond, the inactive, conjugated estrogen is converted back into its active form and can be reabsorbed into circulation. This recycling of estrogen may raise overall estrogen levels, contribute to hormonal imbalance, and potentially increase the risk of hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer.
12 Bacterial Genera Encode Beta-Glucuronidase
- Bacteroides
- Bifidobacterium
- Citrobacter
- Clostridium
- Dermabacter
- Escherichia
- Faecalibacterium
- Lactobacillus
- Marvinbryantia
- Propionibacterium
- Roseburia
- Tannerella
References
Kwa, M., Plottel, C. S., Blaser, M. J., & Adams, S. (2016). The Intestinal Microbiome and Estrogen Receptor-Positive Female Breast Cancer. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 108(8), djw029. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djw029