Gut barrier changes begin years before menopause, study finds

A longitudinal study of 964 women found that blood markers of gut barrier dysfunction began rising 2 to 2.5 years before the final menstrual period and stayed elevated after menopause, linking the transition to inflammation. Published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the study tracked FABP2 and sCD14 levels across repeated assessments. FABP2 rose 26.3% and sCD14 7.5% during the transition, with changes unrelated to race, BMI, or age at menopause. The findings suggest gut permeability changes are part of menopause, not just aging. Researchers propose future clinical trials could test probiotics or other interventions to prevent these barrier changes and improve health outcomes.