Menopause factors and alterations in gut microbiota and insulin homeostasis: A cross‐sectional analysis of the microbiome and insulin longitudinal evaluation study (MILES)

Aim To assess the risk for impaired insulin homeostasis as a function of menopause‐related factors and gut microbiota dysbiosis in non‐diabetic, post‐menopausal women. Materials and Methods Baseline data ( n = 175 women) from the Microbiome and Insulin Longitudinal Evaluation Study (MILES) were used, including insulin and dysglycaemia indices calculated from a 2‐h oral glucose tolerance test, untargeted peripheral metabolomics, targeted peripheral short chain fatty‐acid levels and faecal bacterial microbiota surveyed by whole‐metagenomic sequencing. Results After adjustment for covariates, menopause age <50 years and use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were associated with lower Matsuda et al. insulin sensitivity index levels (β = −0.232, confidence interval (CI) = [−0.450, −0.014] and β = −0.275, CI = [−0.444, −0.107], respectively) but not pre‐menopausal gynaecologic surgery. Pre‐menopausal gynaecologic surgery was significantly associated with faecal microbiota beta diversity driven by a relative increase in diabetogenic Ruminococcus gnavus and Clostridium species and a decrease in protective Alistipes species and Akkermansia muciniphila relative abundances. A reduction in two glycerophospholipids in the plasmalogen class significantly statistically mediated an inverse association between gynaecologic surgery before menopause and insulin sensitivity. Conclusions Menopause age and history of HRT are more strongly associated with insulin resistance than gynaecologic surgery before menopause. However, gynaecologic surgery is associated with shifts in gut microbial composition and plasma metabolite levels with a potential to contribute to future diabetes risk.