Male depression may be caused by intestinal flora eating up testosterone!

Recently, a study from Wuhan University isolated bacteria capable of degrading testosterone from the intestines of male patients with depression and identified genes in the bacterial flora that specifically decompose testosterone.

Testosterone is a neuroactive steroid hormone produced by the testicles, adrenal glands, and adipose tissue.

After testosterone is metabolized by the liver, it is excreted into the intestine via bile, and then 83% is reabsorbed into the blood.

Because these hormones pass through the intestines, this gives gut microbes the opportunity to influence the levels of some steroid hormones by changing the ratio of their active and inactive forms.

Therefore, the metabolism of steroid hormones by intestinal microorganisms may affect the onset or treatment of certain diseases.

The gut microbiota of patients with depression is significantly different from that of healthy controls and is characterized by an increased abundance of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes.

Proteobacteria and actinomycetes have been identified as being able to degrade steroids.

Therefore, the intestinal flora of patients with depression may have a stronger ability to degrade steroids than normal people.

This study reveals a possible mechanism of male depression from the perspective of intestinal flora, laying the foundation for subsequent targeted interventions.

Perhaps, the future way to treat depression is to change the intestinal flora.

Di Li et al, 3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase expressed by gut microbes degrades testosterone and is linked to depression in males, Cell Host & Microbe, 2022.