Serum Intestinal Fatty Acid-Binding Protein as A Biomarker of Gut Barrier Integrity in Menopausal Women

Estrogen deficiency during menopause may impair gut barrier integrity, increasing permeability and leading to low-grade inflammation. This study aims to assess blood I-FABP levels as a biomarker of gut barrier integrity in menopausal women and to examine their association with menopausal symptoms and lifestyle factors.

A cross-sectional, case-control study was conducted with a total of 40 women, including 20 menopausal and 20 non-menopausal participants, recruited from Çukurova University Balcali Hospital. Serum I-FABP levels were measured using a standardized sandwich ELISA technique. The statistical analyses included the independent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-squared test, logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

The average serum I-FABP levels were significantly higher in menopausal women than in non-menopausal controls (1.17 ± 0.28 vs. 0.73 ± 0.30 ng/mL, p < 0.001). The ROC analysis yielded an AUC of 0.869, indicating 85% sensitivity and 80% specificity at the optimal threshold of 1.0 ng/mL. Elevated I-FABP levels were associated with a 22.7-fold increased likelihood of menopause (p < 0.001). Age was an independent predictor of elevated I-FABP levels (OR = 1.72, p = 0.024).

In Conclusion, Serum I-FABP levels are significantly increased in menopausal women, suggesting compromised gut barrier integrity likely related to estrogen deficiency. Although the sample size provides sufficient statistical power, its small magnitude remains a notable limitation. More long-term studies are needed to confirm these results and look into the reasons behind them.