Estrogen, gut bacteria, and heart health in menopausal hormone therapy
Official title: The estrogen-related gut microbiome, vasomotor symptoms, and subclinical atherosclerosis in a randomized clinical trial of menopausal hormone therapy
Funded at Albert Einstein College of Medicine · NIH-11448536 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study will look at how gut bacteria and estrogen-related recycling affect hot flashes and heart-risk markers in women starting modern menopausal hormone therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $865,104 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL183190-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11448536 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women under age 60 within 10 years of menopause who are starting estrogen-containing menopausal hormone therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Results may not apply to women outside the specified age/menopause window or those not using estrogen-containing HT.
What this research studies
Women under 60 using menopausal hormone therapy will be followed in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled setting to see how the gut microbiome and estrogen recycling relate to vasomotor symptoms and early signs of atherosclerosis. Researchers will collect stool and blood samples to analyze gut bacteria and hormone-related genes, alongside clinical measures of heart risk. The goals are to understand whether gut microbes influence treatment benefits and cardiovascular safety in the context of HT. This ancillary study adds microbiome insights to a trial focused on menopause symptoms and cardiovascular outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to personalized HT approaches that consider gut microbiome to optimize symptom relief and cardiovascular safety.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work links gut microbiome with estrogen metabolism, but this is a novel ancillary study within a randomized HT trial.
Where this research is happening
-
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peters, Brandilyn a — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Peters, Brandilyn a
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.