Many women experience mood changes at the onset of menopause. With the loss of Estrogen, the mood regulating hormone Serotonin is also affected.
Serotonin influences mood by modulating neural circuits involved in emotional processing and mood regulation. It helps to maintain emotional stability, promote feelings of well-being, and regulate responses to stress and anxiety. Optimal serotonin levels are associated with a positive mood, while imbalances in serotonin signaling can lead to mood disturbances such as depression and anxiety.
Estrogen influences serotonin activity in the brain through various mechanisms. Firstly, estrogen modulates the expression of serotonin receptors and transporters, affecting the sensitivity of neural circuits involved in mood regulation. Additionally, estrogen enhances the synthesis and release of serotonin, promoting its availability.
The god news is, if you maintain a healthy gut microbiome then you can optimize your serotonin production.
Approximately 90% of the body’s serotonin is produced in the gut, A healthy and diverse gut microbiota is essential for optimal serotonin production. Certain beneficial bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species, have been shown to promote serotonin synthesis. Conversely, dysbiosis, an imbalance in gut microbiota composition, characterized by an overgrowth of harmful bacteria and a reduction in beneficial ones, can adversely affect serotonin levels. SIBO and IBS can also develop due to gut microbiome imbalance.
Disturbances in gut microbiota composition, can also result from factors like poor dietary habits, stress, antibiotics, and lifestyle. Restoring gut health through interventions such as probiotic supplementation, dietary modifications, and stress management techniques has shown promise in alleviating symptoms of these disorders by modulating serotonin levels.