50% of women with endometriosis suffer from digestive symptoms. Is there a link between this disease and the microbiota? With the Endo Lab , we looked into this subject.
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a disease defined by the development of endometrial-like tissue in inappropriate locations, i.e. outside the uterus. This is the case, for example, in the digestive system: this is called digestive endometriosis . These endometriosis lesions can form cysts, adhesions between organs and, above all, inflammation. It is therefore an inflammatory disease. Since this inflammation can lead to a dysfunction of the immune system (including that present in the digestive system), it is therefore essential to take care of your intestinal microbiota. It is in this sense that taking probiotics can be interesting to rebalance your intestinal microbiota in order to relieve digestive symptoms and help treat the inflammation caused by the disease.
Link between microbiota and digestive endometriosis?
The intestinal microbiota is defined, according to Inserm, as "a set of microorganisms - bacteria, viruses, parasites and non-pathogenic fungi - that live within our intestines ." It is made up of approximately 10^13 microorganisms, which represents approximately the number of cells making up our body. Nowadays, the diverse roles of the intestinal microbiota are increasingly being highlighted. Researchers are currently trying to understand the links between an unbalanced intestinal microbiota and certain pathologies, particularly autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Endometriosis is a complex, inflammatory, hormone-dependent, multifactorial and often disabling gynecological disease . Its onset factors and pathophysiological mechanisms are still poorly understood. Its treatment is currently unsatisfactory and much research on this subject is underway.
Could the inflammation present in people with endometriosis have a close link with the intestinal ecosystem? Inflammation is a fundamental factor aggravating digestive endometriosis . It is most often chronic, known as low-grade metabolic, and its resolution is at the heart of attempts to relieve women with this disease. This characteristic inflammation constitutes the link between endometriosis and the intestinal ecosystem. The latter is composed of mucus, an intestinal epithelium and the intestinal microbiota. It is in constant dialogue with the immune system. What promotes the disease is the breakdown of this harmonious dialogue between the host, its intestine and its microbiota. This triggers a loss of selective permeability, an alteration of the protective mucus and the stimulation of the immune system and the accompanying inflammation.
Finally, the link between the imbalance of the intestinal microbiota , also called intestinal dysbiosis, which is called dysbiosis and endometriosis is an emerging research topic. Publications on this subject are very recent. This is why, for the moment, very few studies on the benefits of probiotic supplementation on women with endometriosis have been published. However, a recent meta-analysis has shown that probiotic supplementation with certain appropriate strains can help reduce the inflammation involved in certain chronic and inflammatory pathologies, such as digestive endometriosis .
In addition, an anti-inflammatory diet remains essential, as well as certain dietary supplements. Find all the advice you need to better understand and manage your endometriosis on the Endo Lab .
Probiotics to relieve digestive endometriosis
Ectopic (out-of-place) implantation of endometrial tissue may reflect an “overly tolerant” immune system, and the provision of probiotic strains may help correct this immune imbalance, providing an interesting solution as a therapeutic agent. Probiotics are defined by the WHO as “live microorganisms which, when ingested in sufficient quantities, exert positive effects on health, beyond traditional nutritional effects.” Their beneficial effects on the digestive ecosystem are generally attributed to the normalization of intestinal permeability, the restoration of intestinal flora, the improvement of intestinal immunological barrier function, and the downregulation of the pro-inflammatory intestinal immune response.
Since endometriosis is an inflammatory disease and inflammation leads to dysfunction of the immune system (including the digestive system), it is essential to take care of your intestinal microbiota . In this sense, taking probiotics can help: treat inflammation, effectively eliminate toxins, reduce stomach aches linked to bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or even reduce the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Written in partnership with Le Lab de l'Endo By Dr Xavier Campana - Co-Founder of La Maison du Microbiote
Sources:
- Molina NM, Sola-Leyva A, Saez-Lara MJ, Plaza-Diaz J, Tubić-Pavlović A, Romero B, Clavero A, Mozas-Moreno J, Fontes J, Altmäe S. New Opportunities for Endometrial Health by Modifying Uterine Microbial Composition: Present or Future? Biomolecules. 2020 Apr 11;10(4):593. doi:10.3390/biom10040593. PMID: 32290428; PMCID: PMC7226034.
- Molina NM, Sola-Leyva A, Saez-Lara MJ, Plaza-Diaz J, Tubić-Pavlović A, Romero B, Clavero A, Mozas-Moreno J, Fontes J, Altmäe S. New Opportunities for Endometrial Health by Modifying Uterine Microbial Composition: Present or Future? Biomolecules. 2020 Apr 11;10(4):593. doi:10.3390/biom10040593. PMID: 32290428; PMCID: PMC7226034.
- Yalçın Bahat P, Ayhan I, Üreyen Özdemir E, İnceboz Ü, Oral E. Dietary supplements for treatment of endometriosis: A review. Acta Biomed. 2022 Mar 14;93(1):e2022159. doi:10.23750/abm.v93i1.11237. PMID: 35315418; PMCID: PMC8972862.
