Beta-Glucuronidase

Sample Required: Stool | Test Type: Immunity


Key Advantages

  • Quantitiative reading of Beta-Glucuronidase
Beta-glucuronidase is an enzyme that breaks the tight bond between glucuronic acid and toxins in the intestines. The binding of toxins in the gut is protective by way of blocking their absorption and facilitating excretion. Higher levels of beta-glucuronidase may be associated with an imbalanced intestinal microbiota profile, as well as higher circulating oestrogens and lower faecal excretion of oestrogens in premenopausal women.

RESOURCES

High Levels of Beta-Glucuronidase

B-glucuronidase (B-G) is an enzyme that breaks the tight bond between glucuronic acid and toxins in the intestines. The liver and intestine bind toxins, steroid hormones and some dietary components to glucuronic acid. That is a protective process that limits absorption and enterohepatic resorption of toxins, and enhances excretion. A high level of activity of B-G in the gut is not desirable. A low level of B-G activity is not known to be of any direct clinical consequence.

B-glucuronidase is produced by the intestinal epithelium and certain intestinal bacteria. Observational studies have indicated a correlation between high B-G activity and certain cancers, but a definitive causal relationship has not been established. Higher levels of B-G have been associated with higher circulating oestrogens and lower faecal excretion of oestrogens in premenopausal women. A potential dietary carcinogen derived from cooked meat and fish induces high B-G activity and prolongs internal exposure to the toxin in an experimental animal model.

Diet and Beta-Glucuronidase

Diet and intestinal bacterial imbalance modulate B-G activity. High fat, high protein and low fibre diets are associated with higher B-G activity compared to vegetarian or high soluble fibre diets. Higher B-G may be associated with an imbalanced intestinal microbiota profile. Some major bacterial producers of faecal B-G include Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Escherichia coli, Clostridium, Bacteroides fragilis and other Bacteroides species, Ruminococcus gnavus, and species that belong to the genera Staphylococcus and Eubacterium.

Low Levels of Beta-Glucuronidase

Low B-G activity is an indicator of abnormal metabolic activity among the intestinal microbiota that may be influenced by dietary extremes, diminished abundance and diversity of the intestinal microbiota, or heavy probiotic and/or prebiotic supplementation. A low fat, low meat and high fibre diet, such as consumed by strict vegetarians, may be associated with lower B-G activity compared to a typical “Western diet.” High-end consumption of soluble fibre (e.g. inulin) and supplementation with Lactobacillus acidophilus may be inconsequentially associated with lower faecal B-G.