### Changes in Gut Bacteria After Menopause and Their Impact on Health A recent study has found that after menopause, Hispanic women experience changes in their gut bacteria that are linked to increased risks of heart disease and metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes. As women go through menopause, their levels of sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone decline. This hormonal change affects the gut microbiome, the community of bacteria and other microorganisms living in the digestive system. The study examined blood and stool samples from 295 premenopausal women, 1,027 post-menopausal women, and 978 men. It found that post-menopausal women had less diversity in their gut bacteria compared to premenopausal women. This reduced diversity was similar to what is observed in men. The researchers believe that the decrease in estrogen and progesterone leads to a reduction in the bacteria that metabolize these hormones, resulting in less variety in the gut microbiome. This change in gut bacteria is associated with worse cardiometabolic risk profiles in post-menopausal women. For example, higher levels of a specific bacterium called Sutterella wadsworthensis were linked to increased blood pressure. Other bacteria that decreased after menopause include Escherichia coli and Akkermansia muciniphila, while some like Bacteroides sp. increased. The study highlights the importance of the gut microbiome in overall health. While diet can influence the gut microbiome, more research is needed to determine specific dietary recommendations for post-menopausal women to support their cardiometabolic health. The findings suggest that maintaining a diverse gut microbiome could be beneficial, but further studies are needed to confirm this. It's important to note that the study focused on Hispanic women, and the results might differ in other racial or ethnic groups. However, the gut microbiome's role in health is a growing area of research, and these findings add valuable insights into how menopause can impact women's health.