How biological sex of the host shapes its gut microbiota

The gut microbiota is a complex system, consisting of a dynamic population of microorganisms, involved in the regulation of the host’s homeostasis. A vast number of factors are driving the gut microbiota composition including diet, antibiotics, environment, and lifestyle. However, in the past decade, a growing number of studies also focused on the role of sex in relationship to changes in the gut microbiota composition in animal experiments as well as in human beings. Despite the progress in investigation techniques, still little is known about the mechanism behind the observed sex-related differences. In this review, we summarized current knowledge on the sex-dependent differences of the intestinal commensals and discuss the probable direct impact of sex hormones and more indirect effects such as dietary habits or antibiotics. While we have to conclude limited data on specific developmental stages, a clear role for sexual hormones and most probably for testosterone emerges.