What is the Origin of Hormone-Gut Axis?

This term emerged from the realization that the gut is not merely a digestive organ but also a major endocrine gland and metabolic regulator, a concept that is a specific focus within the broader brain-gut-axis research. The concept gained traction with the discovery of gut-derived hormones and the understanding that the gut microbiome actively participates in the enterohepatic circulation of steroid hormones. It reflects a modern, integrated view of hormonal health that includes the microbial environment.

What is the Mechanism of Hormone-Gut Axis?

Hormones such as estrogens, androgens, and thyroid hormones are conjugated in the liver, excreted into the gut, and then can be deconjugated by specific bacterial enzymes in the gut microbiome. This deconjugation process allows the hormones to be reabsorbed, thereby influencing their circulating bioavailability and overall hormonal load. Conversely, gut-derived peptides like cholecystokinin and ghrelin act on central and peripheral hormone receptors to modulate energy balance and satiety. Dysregulation of the microbiome can thus profoundly alter systemic hormonal signaling.

Hormone-Gut Axis

Meaning

The Hormone-Gut Axis is a scientific concept describing the complex, reciprocal communication pathway that exists between the body’s systemic endocrine system and the gastrointestinal tract, including the resident gut microbiota. This influential axis is essential for regulating a wide array of physiological processes, notably energy homeostasis, appetite control, nutrient absorption, and the systemic immune response. It fundamentally highlights that the health and composition of the gut environment are intimately linked to the production, metabolism, and signaling of key circulating hormones.