Vitamin B12 Facilitates the Retroconversion of Estrogens into Androgens by Bacteria

[pyr0maniac]

Hello everybody. Came across this study which I thought some people might find very interesting. I can't post a link to the full study being a new member but if you search google for "Retroconversion of estrogens into androgens by bacteria via a cobalamin-mediated methylation" - it should be the first link.

Abstract:

Steroid estrogens modulate physiology and development of vertebrates. Conversion of C19 androgens into C18 estrogens is thought to be an irreversible reaction. Here, we report a denitrifying Denitratisoma sp. strain DHT3 capable of catabolizing estrogens or androgens anaerobically. Strain DHT3 genome contains a polycistronic gene cluster, emtABCD, differentially transcribed under estrogen-fed conditions and predicted to encode a cobalamin-dependent methyltransferase system conserved among estrogen-utilizing anaerobes; an emtA-disrupted DHT3 derivative could catabolize androgens but not estrogens. These data, along with the observed androgen production in estrogen-fed strain DHT3 cultures, suggested the occurrence of a cobalamin-dependent estrogen methylation to form androgens. Consistently, the estrogen conversion into androgens in strain DHT3 cell extracts requires methylcobalamin and is inhibited by propyl iodide, a specific inhibitor of cobalamin-dependent enzymes. The identification of the cobalamin-dependent estrogen methylation thus represents an unprecedented metabolic link between cobalamin and steroid metabolism and suggests that retroconversion of estrogens into androgens occurs in the biosphere.

Any idea on what dosage of methylcobalamin would be needed to achieve a significant amount of retroconversion? Or is that a bad idea?

There is also a related study if you search for "Anaerobic bacteria need their vitamin B12 to digest estrogen".

 

[tankasnowgod]

Hello everybody. Came across this study which I thought some people might find very interesting. I can't post a link to the full study being a new member but if you search google for "Retroconversion of estrogens into androgens by bacteria via a cobalamin-mediated methylation" - it should be the first link.

Abstract:


Any idea on what dosage of methylcobalamin would be needed to achieve a significant amount of retroconversion? Or is that a bad idea?

There is also a related study if you search for "Anaerobic bacteria need their vitamin B12 to digest estrogen".

Are you thinking of trying to take a dose of B12 for yourself? Well, first off, do you know if you are host to this DHT3 strain bacteria? Here's how the study found it.

Materials and Methods​

The estrogen-degrading denitrifying betaproteobacterium strain DHT3 was isolated from the estradiol-spiked anoxic sludge collected from the Dihua Sewage Treatment Plant (Taipei, Taiwan). Isolation and routine cultivation of strain DHT3 was performed at 28 °C in the dark with a headspace consisted of N2/CO2 (80:20, vol/vol). The resting cells of strain DHT3 were incubated with 13C-labeled estrone under denitrifying conditions. The cultural samples were withdrawn at different time intervals.

Interesting. I've never heard of estradiol-spiked anoxic sludge before.

There's nothing in the study to suggest that this type of bacteria is found in any sort of animal hosts, nor that it would be mostly benign if it did find itself in a host. They made have been doing experiments for industrial purposes.

 

[Lokzo]

This got my hopes up for a minute!

 

[Daniil]

Perhaps this is why b12 increases acne in studies. Acne is obviously related to androgens. But with what else?..

 

[Dr. B]

Perhaps this is why b12 increases acne in studies. Acne is obviously related to androgens. But with what else?..

inflammation, cortisol, i heard estrogens cause acne

 

[Mauritio]

Has anybody checked this out?

Clostridium scindens: A human gut microbe with a high potential to convert glucocorticoids into androgens.

Clostridium scindens: a human gut microbe with a high potential to convert glucocorticoids into androgens - PubMed

Clostridium scindens American Type Culture Collection 35704 is capable of converting primary bile acids to toxic secondary bile acids, as well as converting glucocorticoids to androgens by side-chain cleavage. The molecular structure of the side-chain cleavage product of cortisol produced by C...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[Dr. B]

Has anybody checked this out?

Clostridium scindens: A human gut microbe with a high potential to convert glucocorticoids into androgens.

Clostridium scindens: a human gut microbe with a high potential to convert glucocorticoids into androgens - PubMed

Clostridium scindens American Type Culture Collection 35704 is capable of converting primary bile acids to toxic secondary bile acids, as well as converting glucocorticoids to androgens by side-chain cleavage. The molecular structure of the side-chain cleavage product of cortisol produced by C...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

interesting mate, how can we produce more of that, or help clear up gut bacteria to where the bad ones are gone but good ones remain?

 

[Mauritio]

interesting mate, how can we produce more of that, or help clear up gut bacteria to where the bad ones are gone but good ones remain?

I have no idea

 

[Birdie]

Drug repurposing based on a Quantum-Inspired method - preprint only

Our data reveal that BMS-986094 and different forms of vitamin B12 are effective at inhibiting replication of all these variants of SARS-CoV-2. While BMS-986094 can cause secondary effects in humans as established by phase II trials, these findings suggest that vitamin B12 deserves consideration as a SARS-CoV-2 antiviral, particularly given its extended use and lack of toxicity in humans, and its availability and affordability.

Drug repurposing based on a Quantum-Inspired method versus classical fingerprinting uncovers potential antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 including vitamin B12 - PubMed