Skip to main content

Estrogen Recirculation

Meaning

Estrogen recirculation describes the enterohepatic pathway through which conjugated estrogens, initially processed and excreted by the liver into the bile, are subsequently de-conjugated by intestinal bacteria and reabsorbed back into the systemic circulation. This physiological loop influences the effective half-life and overall bioavailability of estrogens, impacting their steady-state concentration in the body. The efficiency of this process is significantly modulated by the composition and health of the gut microbiome.