Table 3.

Bidirectional interaction between the intestinal microbiota and sex steroids

Sex steroid	Effect on Microbiota
Estrogens [130–135]	⇧reuptake and bioability of E2 by enzymes (produced by bacterias) in bowel that deconjugate E2 glucurodinated ⇧E2 ⇩microbial diversity (in postmenopausal women), inflammatory factors, effect through ER-β ⇩microbiota diversity⇧progression of colon tumors.
Androgens [136–139]	⇧reuptake and bioability of androgens by enzymes (produced by bacterias) in bowel that deconjugate T glucurodinated, ⇧Fecal DHT concentration in the distal intestine (70-fold) ≥ serum from young men, ⇧Androgens ⇩ diversity, effect is reversed by the castration of males.